Identification of Larval Stage of Taenia hydatigena (Cysticercus Tenuicollis) based on Morphological Characteristics of Rostellar Hooks

Abstract

Background and purpose: Taxonomic identification of larval and adult stages of Taenia hydatigena from other Taenia species based on morphometric characteristics of the rostellar hooks in intermediate and definitive host is important in medical and veterinary parasitology. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena (Cysticercus tenuicollis) based on morphological characteristics of rostellar hooks isolated from sheep and goat in Mazandaran province, Iran for the first time. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in 100 samples of rostellar hooks of the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena isolated from sheep and goats in 2014-2015. Morphological characteristics of large and small hooks in the number and size characters were determined and measured by calibrating microscopes. Data analysis was done in SPSS applying Chi-square and One-way ANOVA. Results: The mean number of large and small hooks in goat and sheep isolates were 30.8±3. Morphometric characteristics of hooks in the shape and size were similar in both animal isolates. But significant differences were seen between native and nonnative isolates in mean width of large hooks length (P< 0.05). Conclusion: This study identified the larval stage of Teaina hydatigena from other species of Teaina according to characteristics of rostellar hooks, which is of great significance in taxonomic studies in parasitology.

Keywords

• taenia hydatigena
• cysticercus tenuicollis
• rostellar hooks
• morphology