Tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides lineatus in Chinese Snakes and Their Adults Recovered from Experimental Animals.
- Author:
Shin Hyeong CHO
1
;
Tong Soo KIM
;
Yoon KONG
;
Byoung Kuk NA
;
Woon Mok SOHN
Author Information
1. Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 363-951, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Mesocestoides lineatus;
tetrathyridium;
Chinese snakes;
Agkistrodon saxatilis;
Elaphe schrenckii
- MeSH:
Animals;
Cestode Infections/*parasitology;
Cricetinae;
Dogs;
Larva;
Mesocestoides/anatomy & histology/*classification/isolation & purification;
Snakes/*parasitology
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2013;51(5):531-536
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Morphological characteristics of Mesocestoides lineatus tetrathyridia collected from Chinese snakes and their adults recovered from experimental animals were studied. The tetrathyridia were detected mainly in the mesentery of 2 snake species, Agkistrodon saxatilis (25%) and Elaphe schrenckii (20%). They were 1.73 by 1.02 mm in average size and had an invaginated scolex with 4 suckers. Adult tapeworms were recovered from 2 hamsters and 1 dog, which were orally infected with 5-10 larvae each. Adults from hamsters were about 32 cm long and those from a dog were about 58 cm long. The scolex was 0.56 mm in average width with 4 suckers of 0.17 by 0.15 mm in average size. Mature proglottids measured 0.29 by 0.91 mm (av.). Ovaries and vitellaria bilobed and located in the posterior portion of proglottids. The cirrus sac was oval-shaped and located median. Testes were follicular, distributed in both lateral fields of proglottids, and 41-52 in number per proglottid. Gravid proglottids were 1.84 by 1.39 mm (av.) with a characteristic paruterine organ. Eggs were 35 by 27 microm in average size with a hexacanth embryo. These morphological characteristics of adult worms were identical with those of M. lineatus reported previously. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the tetrathyridia detected in 2 species of Chinese snakes are the metacestodes of M. lineatus, and 2 snake species, A. saxatilis and E. schrenckii, play the role of intermediate hosts.
