Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T23:27:03.891Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Composition, secretion, and fate of the glands in the miracidium and sporocyst of Fasciola hepatica L.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Gerald R. Buzzell
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra and Department of Biology, University of York, England

Abstract

The anterior end of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica contains a large flask-shaped apical gland and four unicellular lateral glands, all of which have ducts which pass to the tip of the apical papilla. These glands appear to be involved in penetration of the larva into the snail host. The apical gland secretes as the miracidium proves the epidermis of the host before attachment. It seems likely that its secretion is a chemical which lyses the epidermal cells. The lateral glands are PAS-positive and may contain a neutral mucopolysaccharide. They also secrete as the miracidium probes the snail and a layer of PAS-positive material may be seen at the leading edge of the apical papilla as the larva penetrates into the host. Both the apical gland and the lateral glands may be visible in the sporocyst for several days after penetration.

Type
Research Note
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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

Barlow, C. H. (1925) The life cycle of the human intestinal fluke Fasciolopsis buski (Lankester). American Journal of Hygiene, Monographic Series, No. 4, 198.Google Scholar
Buzzell, G. R. (1974) A technique for demonstrating glands in miracidia of some Fasciolidae (Trematoda). Stain Technology, 49, 3942.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buzzell, G.R. (1975) Double-embedding techniques for light microscope histology. Stain Technology, 50, 285287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coil, W.H. (1981) Miracidial penetration in Fascioloicles magna (Trematoda). Zeilschrift fur Parasitenkunde, 65, 299307.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawes, B. (1959) Penetration of the liver-fluke, Fasciola hepatica into the snail, Limnaea truncatula. Nature, 184, 13341335.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawes, B. (1960) A study of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica and an account of the mode of penetration of the sporocyst into Limnaea truncatula. Libro Homenaje al Dr. Eduardo Caballeroy Caballero. Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Mexico, 95111.Google Scholar
Dogra, G. S. & Tandon, B. K. (1964) Adaptation of certain histological techniques for in situ demonstration of the neuro-endocrine system of insects and other animals. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Sciences, 105, 455–66.Google Scholar
Grimstone, A. V. & Skaer, R. J. (1972) A Guidebook to Microscopical Methods. University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Køie, M., Christensen, N. Ø. & Nansen, P. (1976) Stereoscan studies of eggs, free-swimming and penetrating miracidia and early sporocysts of Fasciola hepatica. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde, 51, 7990.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mattes, O. (1949) Wirtsfindung, Invasionsvorgang und Wirtsspezifität beim Fasciola-miracidium. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde, 14, 320336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, A. G. E.(1968) Histochemistry. Theoretical and Applied. Vol. 1. 3rd Edition. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, London, New York.Google Scholar
Saint-Guillain, M. (1968) Étude histologique des premières stades évolutifs de Fasciola hepatica L. Ada Zoologica et Pathologica Antverpiensa, No. 46, 77132.Google Scholar
Thomas, A. P. (1883) The life cycle of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica). Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Sciences, 23, 99133.Google Scholar
Wigglesworth, V. B. (1957) The use of osmium in the fixation and staining of tissues. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 147, 185199.Google ScholarPubMed
Wilson, R. A. (1971) Gland cells and secretions in the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica. Parasitology, 63, 225231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, R. A., Pullen, R. & Denison, J. (1971) An investigation of the mechanism of infection by digenetic trematodes: the penetration of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica into its snail host Lymnaea truncatula. Parasitology, 63, 491506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed