Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T01:14:29.916Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A morphological and histochemical study of Trichuris suis (Schrank, 1788) with special reference to the host-parasite relationship

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

T. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College, Cardiff

Extract

Adult forms of the pig whipworm, T. suis, are able to establish intimate contact with the host's tissues by the formation of a tunnel-like construction which covers a section of the thread-like oesophageal region. The extreme anterior oral end and the stouter posterior region are not covered and lie free in the lumen of the caecum. The attachment tunnel is composed of host mucosal cells and goblet cell secretion and its possible mode of construction is discussed. Host tissue not directly involved in tunnel formation appears unharmed by the presence of the parasite. T. suis is therefore not a serious pathogen under natural conditions.

It has been demonstrated that characteristic structures of the trichuroid oesophageal region, e.g. bacillary band and stichosome are metabolically active. The former penetrates the layered cuticle in the form of columnar protrusions originating in the hypodermis. Each hypodermal column represents a gland cell or bacifiary cell, which displays enzymic activity, e.g. acid phosphatase, non-specific esterase, glucose-6-phosphatase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and β-d-glucosidase. Its possible function at the host-parasite interface and in the metabolism of the whipworm is discussed. The layered cuticle is proteinaceous and enzymically inert.

Glandular activity is also displayed by the stichosome surrounding the capillary-like oesophagus. This evidence confirms earlier suggestions that the stichosome is a series of oesophageal glands.

Although the bacillary band may be involved in nutrient uptake the evidence obtained indicates that this is via the mouth which is favourably placed for the ingestion of mucoid material which was detected in the oesophagus. This may be subjected to preliminary hydrolysis by the enzymes present in the oesophagus and stichosome.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anya, A. O. (1964). The distribution of lipids and glycogen in some female oxyuroids. Parasitology 54, 555–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Askanazy, M. (1896). Der Peitschenwurmein blutsaugender Parasit. Deutsches Archiv. für klinische Medizin 57, 104–17.Google Scholar
Bastian, H. C. (1866). On the anatomy and physiology of the nematoids, parasitic and free; with observations on their zoological position and affinities to the echinoderms. Transactions of the Royal Society B, 156, 545638.Google Scholar
Beck, J. W. & Beverley-Burton, M. (1968). The pathology of Trichuris, Capillaria and Trichinella infections. Helminthological Abstracts 37, 126.Google Scholar
Beckett, E. B. & Boothroyd, B. (1961). Some observations on the fine structure of the mature larva of the nematode Trichinella spiralis. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 55, 116–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beckett, E. B. & Boothroyd, B. (1962). The histochemistry and electron microscopy of glycogen in the larva of Trichinella spiralis and its environment. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 56, 266–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burrows, R. B. & Lillis, W. G. (1964). The whipworm as a blood sucker. Journal of Parasitology 50, 675–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burstone, M. S. (1962). Enzyme Histochemistry and Its Application in the Study of Neoplasms. New York and London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Butcher, R. G., Diengdoh, J. V. & Chayen, J. (1964). A study of the histochemical demonstration of cytochrome oxidase. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 105, 497502.Google Scholar
Chiquoine, A. D. (1953). The distribution of glucose-6-phosphatase in the liver and kidney of the mouse. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1, 429–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chitwood, B. G. (1930). The structure of the esophagus in the Trichuroidea. Journal of Parasitology 17, 3542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chitwood, B. G. (1935). The nature of the ‘Cell-body’ of Trichuris and ‘Stichosome’ of Agamermis. Journal of Parasitology 21, 225–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chitwood, B. G. & Chitwood, M. B. (1937). The histology of nemic esophagi. VIII. The esophagus of representatives of the Enoplida. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 27, 517–31.Google Scholar
Chitwood, B. G. & Chitwood, M. B. (1950). An introduction to nematology Sect. 1. Rev. edn. 213 p. Baltimore Monumental Printing Co.Google Scholar
Davenport, H. E. (1949 a). The haemoglobins of Ascaris lumbricoides. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 136, 255–70.Google ScholarPubMed
Davenport, H. E. (1949 b). The haemoglobins of Nippostrongylus muris (Yokogawa) and Strongylus spp. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B, 136, 271–80.Google Scholar
Eberth, C. J. (1860). Beiträge zur Anatomie und Physiologie des Trichocephalus dispar. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie 10, 233–58.Google Scholar
Efremov, V. V. & Shikhobalova, N. P. (1939). Histopathogenesis of experimental trichocephalosis in white mice. Medical Parasitology and Parasitic Disease U.S.S.R. 8, 81–8.Google Scholar
Fernán-Núñez, M. (1927). The pathogenic role of Trichocephalus dispar (Trichuris trichiura). Archives of Internal Medicine 40, 4657.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fülleborn, F. (1923). Über den ‘Mundstächel’ der Trichotracheliden–Larven und Bemerkungen über die jüngsten Stadien von Trichocephalus trichiurus. Archiv für Schiffs-und Tropenhygiene 27, 421–5.Google Scholar
Haines, D. O., Buckley, J. J. C. & Pester, F. R. N. (1968). A cryptic infection of an appendix with the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura in Britain. Journal of Helminthology 42, 289–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halton, D. W. (1967). Studies on phosphatase activity in Trematoda. Journal of Parasitology 53, 4654.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hess, R. & Pearse, A. G. E. (1958). The histochemistry of indoxylesterase of rat kidney, with special reference to its cathepsin-like activity. British Journal of Experimental Pathology 39, 292–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Hoeppli, R. (1933). On histolytic changes and extra-intestinal digestion in parasitic infections. Lingnan Science Journal 12, Suppl. 111.Google Scholar
Ishikawa, M. (1961). Succinic dehydrogenase activity in the muscle cell of Ascaris suis. Japanese Journal of Parasitology 10, 555–6.Google Scholar
Jägerskiöld, L. A. (1901). Weitere Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Nematoden. Kungliga Svenska vetenskapsakademiens handlingar 32, 180.Google Scholar
Jenkins, T. & Erasmus, D. A. (1963). Studies on the incidence of helminth parasites in pigs from South Wales. Journal of Helminthology 36, 299306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenkins, T. (1967). Histochemical and electron microscope studies on pig nematodes. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Jenkins, T. (1969). Electron microscope observations of the body wall of Trichuris suis, Schrank, 1788 (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) 1. The Cuticle and Bacillary Band. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde 32, 374–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, D. L. (1962). The distribution of esterase enzymes in Ascaris lumbricoides. Parasitology 52, 241–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, D. L. (1965). The cuticle of adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Parasitology 55, 173–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, H. C. (1933). On the mouth-spear of Trichocephalus trichiurus and of a Trichocephalus sp. from monkey, Macacus rhesus. Chinese Medical Journal 47, 1343–6.Google Scholar
Müller, G. W. (1929). Die Ernährung einiger Trichuroideen. Zeitschrift für Morphologie 15, 192212.Google Scholar
Nimmo-Smith, R. H. & Keeling, J. E. D. (1960). Some hydrolytic enzymes of the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris. Experimental Parasitology 10, 337–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Öhman, C. (1964). Comparative histological and histochemical studies of the Strigeida (Trematoda) with special reference to the structure and function of the adhesive organ. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Wales.Google Scholar
Pearse, A. G. E. (1960). Histochemistry. Theoretical and Applied. London: J. and A. Churchill, Ltd.Google Scholar
Powers, K. G., Todd, A. C. & McNutt, S. H. (1960). Experimental infections of swine with Trichuris suis. American Journal of Veterinary Research 21, 262–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Rauther, M. (1918). Mitteilungen zur NematodenKunde. Zoologische Jahrbücher 40, 441515.Google Scholar
Richels, I. (1955). Histopathologische Studien zu den Problemen der Zellkonstanz: Untersuchungen zur Mikroskopischen Anatomie im Lebenszyklus von Trichinella spiralis. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene (Abteilting I) Orig. 163, 4684.Google Scholar
Rutenberg, A. M., Rutenberg, S. H., Monis, B., Teague, R. & Seligman, A. M. (1958). Histochemical demonstration of β-D-galactosidase in the rat. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 6, 122–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seligman, A. M. & Rutenberg, A. M. (1951). The histochemical demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase. Science 113, 317–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheffield, H. G. (1963) Electron microscopy of the bacillary band and stichosome of Trichuris muris and T. vulpis. Journal of Parasitology 49, 9981009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, M. H. & Lee, D. L. (1963). Metabolism of haemoglobin and haematin compounds in Ascaris lumbricoides. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, 157, 234–57.Google Scholar
Wakelin, D. (1965). Experimental studies on the biology of Capillaria obsignata Madsen, 1945, a nematode parasite of the domestic fowl. Journal of Helminthology 39, 399412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wharton, G. W. (1941). The function of respiratory pigments of certain turtle parasites. Journal of Parasitology 27, 81–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, K. A. (1963). Cytology of the bacillary bands of the nematode Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893). Journal of Morphology 112, 233–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, K. A. (1968 a). The fine structure of the cuticle and interchordal hypodermis of the parasitic nematodes, Capillaria hepatica and Trichuris myocastoris. Canadian Journal of Zoology 46, 173–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, K. A. (1968 b). Structure of the bacillary band of Trichuris myocastoris. Journal of Parasitology 54, 1106–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yorke, W. & Maplestone, P. A. (1926). The Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates. London: J. and A. Churchill.Google Scholar