Electron microscopical studies of Strongyloides ratti infective larvae: loss of the surface coat during skin penetration |
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Authors: | D I Grove A Warton C Northern J M Papadimitriou |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands. |
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Abstract: | Previous indications using radiolabelled larvae that Strongyloides ratti free-living infective larvae lose a surface coat during penetration of the skin were further investigated by transmission electron microscopy of the cuticle of S. ratti infective larvae in the free-living stage, after penetration of mouse skin, and after migration to the lungs. These studies demonstrated the presence of a faint electron-dense surface coat external to the epicuticle on free-living worms which was absent from larvae recovered from the skin and lungs. When free-living infective larvae were incubated in 10% CO2 at 37 C and then examined with phase-contrast microscopy, worms were observed in the process of losing this coat. These observations confirm the hypothesis that S. ratti infective larvae lose a surface coat during penetration of the skin. |
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