Biosystems Diversity (Nov 2018)

Comparative embryonic development of nematodes of the genus Тrichuris (Nematoda, Trichuridae) obtained from sheep (Ovis aries)

  • V. V. Melnychuk,
  • А. V. Berezovsky

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15421/011839
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 4
pp. 257 – 262

Abstract

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Biological specifics of Trichuris оvis Abildgaard, 1795 and T. globulosa Linstow, 1901 parasitizing domestic sheep were analyzed enhancing the species identification of these nematode species. The embryonic development of nematodes was timed, survival of embryonic stages was determined taking into account their morphological and metric specifics in laboratory culture. Trichuris eggs were isolated from gonads of adult female nematodes collected from caeca of dissected sheep. Then the eggs were cultured at optimal temperature to the formation of eggs with mobile larvae. Six morphologically distinct stages of embryogenesis were established in T. оvis and T. globulosa nematodes. The protoplast stage lasted from the 1st to the 12th day in T. оvis and to the 18th day in T. globulosa. Blastomeric formation occurred from the 3rd to the 18th day in T. оvis and from the 3rd to the 21st day in T. globulosa. Bean-shaped embryos formed from the 6th to the 21st day in T. оvis, and from the 9th to the 30th day in T. globulosa. Tadpole-like embryos developed from the 12th to the 24th day in T. оvis and from the 18th to the 33rd day in T. globulosa. Larvae formed in eggs of T. оvis from the 18th to the 27th day, and in eggs of T. globulosa from the 21st to the 36th day. Mobile larvae formed from the 21st to the 30th day in T. оvis, and from the 30th to the 39th day in T. globulosa. At 27 °С, mature eggs with mobile larvae developed in 30 days in T. оvis and in 39 in T. globulosa. The egg survival in laboratory culture was 84.3 ± 4.2 % and 76.3 ± 1.5%, respectively. Developmental changes of metric parameters in Trichuris nematode eggs (length and width of eggs, plug length, eggshell thickness) were species-specific.

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