Development, growth, and migration of Philophthalmus gralli (Trematoda) from Jordan in the eyes of chicks

The growth of Philophthalmus gralli from Jordan was studied experimentally by inoculating 10 excysted metacercariae around the right eye of 47 day-old chicks. The growth rate was slow in the first three days during which flukes did not exceed 0.30 mm long. Then growth became rapid reaching 2.70 mm long on day 24. This was followed by a low growth rate during which the flukes grew from 2.70 mm to 2.90 mm on day 40. The flukes started to appear in the left eye on day 12 post-inoculation of metacercariae in the right eye. The recovery of flukes in the left eye increased from 5% on day 12 to 30% on day 32. The development of P. gralli from Jordan was the same as of other species of Philophthalmus. However, a sixth stage, post-maturation stage, is suggested in addition to the 5 developmental stages of Philophthalmus. The ratio of the transverse diameter of the ovary to that of testes in the post-maturation stage was 1:1.1-1:1.2.     

Allometric study of the lachrymal and Harderian glands of the rat during postnatal life.

The authors performed an allometric study of the growth of the rat's lachrymal and Harderian glands, during postnatal life. From the analysis of the results, they could conclude: (1) the growth of these glands in relation to body weight, during postnatal life, could be considered similar, following the allometric law; (2) the differential growth of the glands occurred in two stages: from birth until the 15th day and from the 15th day until the final period of life studied; (3) the two stages of development were separated by a critical period, during which an abrupt modification of the allometric coefficient occurred; (4) during the first days of postnatal life, the development of the Harderian gland was characterized by a high rate of growth and, just after eyelid disjunction and during rest of postnatal life, by a rate of allometric of growth less than 1. It is interesting to observe that the lachrymal and Harderian glands' critical period of development on the 15th day of postnatal life coincides with the time at which the eyelids of the animal open.     

Morphological development and allometric growth patterns in the juvenile seahorse Hippocampus kuda Bleeker

The morphological development and allometric growth patterns in the juvenile spotted seahorse Hippocampus kuda were studied under hatchery rearing conditions. Newborn spotted seahorses [mean ± s.d . standard length ( L _S) 9·33 ± 0·79 mm] were raised till the age of 124 days (119·35 ± 6·04 mm). Growth was characterized by three stages with two inflexion points occurring at day 21 and 76. The mean growth rates in the first, second and third stages were 0·68, 1·16 and 0·71 mm day⁻¹, respectively. The growth rate was most rapid in the second stage and was probably influenced by a behavioural shift from pelagic to benthic form. The mass ( M ) and L _S relationship was exponential ( M = 7·14 × 10⁻⁶ L _S^2·76), but the slope, b = 2·76, reflected negative allometric growth. Sexes could be distinguished at c. 110 days, and the sex ratio was unbiased. The L _S in males and females did not differ significantly. Morphological stageing series is proposed, which divides H. kuda juvenile development into eight stages based on the development of coronet, cheek and eye spines, keel and pigmentation. The morphometric ratios for all the body parts, except trunk length, showed considerable changes at a transition point occurring at c. 25 mm L _S. The high proportional growth in head length, head depth, pectoral fin base length, dorsal fin base length, snout length, snout depth and eye diameter at the initial stages, and the abrupt increase in tail length only after the first 2 weeks, possibly reflect development priorities during early development where important organs are being developed first for the enhancement of juvenile survival.     

Recovery rate, growth and development of Heterophyopsis continua in experimental chicks

The growth and developmental pattern of H. continua was observed after experimental infection of their metacercariae to chicks. The recovery rate of worms from the chicks at 1 to 28 days post-infection (PI) was 12.8% in average. The rate remained fairly high for early 4 days of infection but decreased thereafter rapidly till 28 days PI. Most of the flukes, 91.9%, were recovered from the ileum of the chicks. In metacercariae, genital organs such as the ovary, testes, seminal vesicle, seminal receptacle and genital sucker were recognizable. At one day PI Mehlis' gland appeared, and at 2 days follicular vitellaria were observed. At 3 days PI, eggs were formed in the uterine tubule and increased in number as the worm grew old. The worms reached 2,990 microns in length and 525 microns in width at 28 days PI. Genital organs developed rapidly in early stages of infection but slowly thereafter to 28 days PI, whereas non-genital organs developed steadily through the infection period. It was proved by this experiment that chicks should be a moderately suitable final host of H. continua.     

Inter- and intraspecific diversity of ontogeny and fecundity patterns in relation to reproductive strategy choice in Myomorpha (Rodentia: Calomyscidae,Cricetidae, Muridae)

Studying the life history of various organisms is essential for ecological and evolutionary inferences. However, publications regarding models of evolutionary shifts to either r- or K-reproductive strategies are scarce. Here, the combined original and previously published data on reproduction and development of Goodwin’s brush-tailed mouse (Calomyscus elburzensis), golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), and house mouse (Mus musculus) were compared. An adult male and female in estrous state (from each species) were coupled with each other for a night and embryos were harvested at embryonic days (E) 10–17 from pregnant females. The mean gestation period in Goodwin’s brush-tailed mouse was 31.5?±?2.1 days; growth was rapid at the first half of this period and after that it was reduced by half. During the postnatal period, growth was rapid up to weaning, but after day 35, the rate of growth decreased abruptly. Growth rate of head and body length was very rapid prior to weaning (PN35) in comparison with weight but the rates of the two characters were inversed following weaning. Totally, weight gain was more dynamic in rate, as compared with head and body length, up to adultness. For golden hamster and house mouse, gestation period was 15.6?±?0.8 and 20.8?±?0.8 days, respectively. Growth was slow during approximately the first half of the gestation period in both species but increased during the second half. During postnatal period in golden hamster, growth rate of head and body length was rapid both before and after weaning as compared with that of weight. However, head and body length showed a stable rate of growth before and after weaning (around PN15), but for body weight, the growth rate was slightly faster after weaning. Similarly, changes in head and body length in house mouse were rapid both before and after weaning (PN16) as compared with that of weight. Since approximately two-fold increases were observed in the growth rates of weight and head and body length in the second stage of postnatal development (PN16-adult) compared with the rates during the first stage (PN0-PN16), both showed dynamic changes during the postnatal development in this species. Typically, r-strategic house mouse appeared to be more similar in early morphological development to comparatively K-strategic Goodwin’s brush-tailed mouse, than to comparatively r-strategic golden hamster. Nevertheless, growth rate and pattern were different in the three species after birth. Hence, results showed that peculiarities of association between an ontogenetic pattern and a tendency in reproductive strategy can differ in diverse groups of myomorph rodents.

     

A quantitative approach to the evaluation of the morphological variability of two echinostomes, Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 and E. revolutum (Frölich, 1802), from Europe

A comparative morphometric analysis was conducted on two European species of Echinostoma in order to examine the degree of the variability in the metrical characteristics of the adults and to assess their value in discriminating species. Adult E. miyagawai and E. revolutum, obtained experimentally, were compared using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of 35 and 25 metrical characters, respectively. All subsets of worms of different ages represented homogeneous samples with respect to their morphometric characteristics; however, univariate analyses revealed significant differences in 22 and 23 variables between the corresponding age subsets of the two species, and it was found that the different allometric growth patterns contribute to this. The variables, body width at the posterior border of the ventral sucker, pharynx length and width, ovary length, testes length and width and length of the pre-ovarian region, exhibited isometric or positive allometric growth in E. miyagawai and negative allometry in E. revolutum. A cluster analysis based on 61 specimens and 25 variables separated E. revolutum and E. miyagawai unambiguously, producing an exact ordering of the specimens with respect to their identity and age. A forward stepwise discriminant analysis identified five variables (body width at the posterior border of ventral sucker, head collar width, length of oesophagus, width of ventral sucker and length of the pre-ovarian region) which yielded a 100% accurate classification of the two species. We suggest, therefore, that the morphometric characteristics of the adult worms should be used in studies attempting the identification of species or isolates of Echinostoma spp. More comparative data need to be gathered in order that the species boundaries within the revolutum group be defined more accurately.     

Patterns in the morphological variation of Zonorchis and Skrjabinus (Trematoda: Dicrocoelidae) from small mammals in Malaysia.

A collection of dicroceolid flukes from rats, squirrels and Tupaia in Malaysia is found to be morphologically heterogeneous. Cluster analysis on the basis of three selected body ratios distinguishes two major types comprising highly diverse Skrjabinus from rats, and homogenous Zonorchis from callosciurid squirrels. Tupaia harbours flukes of both genera. Analysis of variance of flukes from rats, demonstrates marked uniformity among worms within individual hosts. Possible effects of allometric growth are investigated by plotting each chosen dimension against body length for the two major groups of worms. Prominent changes are noted only in the relative size of testis in Skrjabinus from rats. Patterns of morphology are discussed in relation to host ecology and distribution.     

Surface ultrastructure of the developmental stages of Heterophyopsis continua (Trematoda: Heterophyidae).

Ultrastructural observations were made on the tegument of juvenile and adult stages of Heterophyopsis continua using scanning electron microscopy. On the surface posterior to the ventral sucker, the tegumental processes were bandlike in the metacercariae, cobblestonelike in the flukes 2 days postinfection (PI), and velvety at 3 days PI. The anterior surface between the oral and ventral suckers of the metacercariae was packed densely with tegumental spines having a 10- to 14-pointed tip. In flukes 6 days PI, the number of points increased to 15-17. The tegumental spines immediately behind the ventral sucker on the metacercariae surface possessed 5-7 points; posteriorly the points were reduced in size and in number. Ciliate sensory papillae (type I), as single or clumped forms of 2 or 3, were abundant around the oral and ventral suckers of metacercaria and adult worms. The clumped papillae appeared bilaterally symmetrical on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The ciliate papillae may function in tango-, rheo-, and/or chemoreception. On the lip of the ventral sucker, 6-7 aciliate domed papillae (type II) were arranged in an equidistant manner. At 2 days PI each type II papilla became a clumped form having 2 or 3 papillae. Type II papillae may function as tango- and/or pressure-receptors. The structure and distribution of papillae suggest that the ventral sucker likely functions as a holdfast organ and the oral sucker as a probing organ involved in feeding.     

Phenotypic analysis of adults of Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica and intermediate forms from the endemic region of Gilan, Iran

Fascioliasis is an important human and animal disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. In Iran, the distribution of these two species overlaps in most areas, including the northern human endemic province of Gilan where both fasciolids are simultaneously found in individual cattle and buffaloes. A phenotypic study of fasciolid adult flukes from naturally infected bovines from Gilan was carried out by means of an exhaustive morphometric analysis using traditional microscopic measurements and an allometric model. The Iranian fasciolids were compared to F. hepatica and F. gigantica standard populations, i.e. from geographical areas where both species do not co-exist (Bolivia and Burkina Faso, respectively). Although morphometric values somewhat overlapped, there were clear differences in allometric growth. The allometric function was adjusted to 25 pairs of variables. Results obtained revealed that Iranian F. hepatica-like specimens are larger than the F. hepatica standard and Iranian F. gigantica-like specimens are longer and narrower than the F. gigantica standard, but with smaller body area. Measurements which permit a specific differentiation in allopatric populations (distance between ventral sucker and posterior end of the body; ratio between body length and body width) overlap in the specimens from Gilan, thus proving the presence of intermediate forms. When compared to the standard populations, the different Iranian fasciolid morphs show greater differences in F. gigantica-like specimens than in F. hepatica-like specimens. This study shows that simple, traditional microscopic measurements may be sufficient for the morphometric characterisation of fasciolids, even in areas where intermediate forms are present.     

红鳍笛鲷仔、稚鱼异速生长

运用生态学和传统理论生物学的研究方法,对孵化后红鳍笛鲷（Lutjanus erythropterus）仔、稚鱼在早期生存和环境适应上的异速生长及器官优先发育生态学意义进行了研究,以期为红鳍笛鲷人工繁殖、育苗提供参考资料。以17日龄为红鳍笛鲷仔、稚鱼的区分时期,结果表明,红鳍笛鲷仔、稚鱼的感觉、呼吸摄食和游泳等器官快速分化,均存在异速生长现象。在头部器官中,吻长、口宽、眼径和头高在仔鱼期均为正异速生长,稚鱼期吻长为等速生长,口宽、眼径和头高为负异速生长。在身体各部位中,仔鱼期头长和体高为正异速生长,躯干部和尾长为负异速生长;稚鱼期体高和躯干长为正异速生长,头长和尾长为等速生长;在游泳器官中,仔鱼期红鳍笛鲷背鳍、腹鳍、尾鳍为正异速生长,胸鳍为等速生长,稚鱼期臀鳍为正异速生长,腹鳍、胸鳍和尾鳍为等速生长,背鳍为负异速生长。红鳍笛鲷这些关键器官的快速发育,使外源性营养开始后以最小的代谢损耗获得了生存能力的显著提升,对挑战和适应纷繁变换的外界压力具有重要的生态学意义。     

斑鰶仔、稚鱼形态发育及异速生长模式研究

运用光学显微镜技术和实验生态学方法, 对斑鰶(Konosirus punctatus)早期形态发育观察、异速生长模式及其生态学意义进行了研究。结果表明: 在水温(21.5±0.5)℃下, 初孵仔鱼全长(3.18±0.52) mm, 斑鰶仔鱼期从孵化出膜到43日龄棱鳞开始出现前, 稚鱼期从44日龄棱鳞出现到55日龄全身覆满鳞片。斑鰶的形态变化和器官分化主要发生在仔鱼期。斑鰶的吻长、躯干长、肠道长、胸鳍长、腹鳍长等重要形态学指标均存在异速生长现象, 其生长拐点依次为 42日龄(TL: 26.41 mm)、24日龄(TL: 15.57 mm)、31日龄(TL: 21.41 mm)、41日龄(TL: 25.47 mm)、42日龄(TL: 26.41 mm)。相对于全长、吻长和胸鳍长在拐点前后由正异速生长变为等速生长, 腹鳍长由正异速生长转为负异速生长, 这为呼吸、摄食和成功逃避捕食者提供有利条件; 而肠道长由负异速生长变为等速生长, 这可能与斑鰶的食性转化有关。综上所述, 为适应复杂多变的生存环境, 斑鰶在早期发育阶段优先发育对生长生存起关键作用的器官, 这对提高仔、稚鱼的存活率具有重要的生态学意义。研究将为今后进一步人工繁育和苗种培育提供理论依据。     

The effects of crowding on adults of Philophthalmus nocturnus grown in domestic chicks.

The effects of crowding on growth, reproduction, rate of recovery and site of infection of Philophthalmus nocturnus were investigated by infecting various groups of day-old chicks with 25, 50, 75, or 100 excysted metacercariae and examining them at 10 or 25 days post-infection. Considerable reduction in the body length and the size of the gonads was noticed in flukes grown under crowded conditions. Crowding also caused some change in the habitat of flukes, but had no effect on their rate of recovery. Very few flukes reached the ovigerous stage under overcrowded conditions and none reached the embryonated larval stage.     

Ultrastructural observations on the sensory papillae of juvenile and adult Gorgoderina vitelliloba (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae)

Hoole D. and Mitchell J.B. 1981. Ultrastructural observations on the sensory papillae of juvenile and adult Gorgoderina vitelliloba (Trematoda : Gorgoderidae). International Journal for Parasitology11: 411–417. Ultrastructural observations have been made on the juvenile and adult stages of Gorgoderina vitelliloba from Rana temporaria. Four types of sensory papillae occur; button, rosette, ciliated and domed. Button papillae, which contain a ciliary-rootlet but lack a cilium, occur on the oral sucker, dorsal preacetabular surface and the lateral margins of the fluke. Scanning electron microscopical observations reveal that the tegumental protuberances of the papilla are transformed from a spiked or conical appearance in juvenile flukes to a rounded form in adult flukes. Rosette papillae, which also contain a rootlet, occur on the lip of the ventral sucker of both juvenile and adult flukes. Ciliated papillae only occur on the oral sucker of juvenile flukes. Domed papillae, which contain a large area of electron-dense material, occur on the internal surface of the ventral sucker of both juvenile and adult flukes. The functions of papillae and their possible role in the migration of the parasite are discussed.     

日本七鳃鳗胚胎发育及卵黄囊期仔鱼的异速生长

通过观察日本七鳃鳗Lampetra japonica (Martens, 1868)胚胎外部形态和内部组织结构变化, 描述受精卵从卵裂至器官形成以及仔鱼孵出的发育阶段, 采用实验生态学方法研究卵黄囊期仔鱼的异速生长模式。结果表明: 日本七鳃鳗卵子为乳白色, 呈卵圆形; 受精卵卵裂方式为全卵裂; 胚胎发育过程主要包括卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、头凸期、孵出前期和孵出期, 历时11—12d; 初孵仔鱼为乳白色, 全长约(3.41±0.24) mm, 体质量约为0.0006 g。日本七鳃鳗胚胎发育研究可为了解七鳃鳗胚胎发育过程, 早期脊椎动物的起源和发育进化研究提供参考。卵黄囊期内仔鱼身体各部分中, 头长和尾长均表现出快速生长, 同在7 日龄出现生长拐点, 且生长拐点后的生长速率都大于生长拐点前的生长速率; 而仔鱼体长在卵黄囊期内表现出慢速生长。在头部器官中, 吻长、鳃前长和鳃长均表现出快速生长现象, 吻长和鳃长分别在9日龄和8日龄出现生长拐点; 口笠长在3日龄时出现生长拐点, 在生长拐点前为等速生长, 而在生长拐点后表现出快速生长; 眼径和眼鳃间距则分别表现出等速生长和慢速生长。泄殖孔在卵黄囊期内未出现生长拐点, 生长速率相对于全长生长速率表现出快速生长现象。七鳃鳗卵黄囊期仔鱼的异速生长是在长期进化过程中, 适应早期生活环境和独特的生活方式而形成特有的发育机制。     

Growth responses of Urtica dioica L. to different water table depth

The study has examined the effect of water table depth (WTD) on production, biomass allocation, allometric relationships and transpiration rate in Urtica dioica. The essential importance of WTD for occurence and spread of Urtica has been documented. Water table depths were: 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 cm below the soil surface. Thirty individuals of Urtica for each WTD, established from apical parts of young rhizomes, has been planted in containers and placed at WTD from the 8th May to the 24th July. The height of all individuals and the length and width of the largest leaf blade of each individual were measured after 42, 55 and 83 days. Transpiration rate was measured after 53 and 82 days. Above-ground biomass of all individuals was harvested on 24 of July and was separated into individual organs. Various biometric parameters were measured. Results showed that biomass, plant height, branching of stems and rhizomes and rhizomes length decreased in containers with a more shallow WTD. Particularly, allometric relationships between plant height and other characteristics such as basal diameter, length of longest branch and rhizome were affected by the water level. The biometric parameters were highly dependent on plant height. Transpiration strongly decreased with decreasing WTD. Therefore, the high water level in the soil suppresses growth of particular organs and water regime of Urtica plants/. Generally, long-term high water content in the soils of floodplains, particularly during floods, limits rapidly, particularly vegetative spread of Urtica in the wetland habitats.     

鲈鲤仔鱼的异速生长模式

采用实验生态学方法研究了鲈鲤(Percocypris pingi pingi)仔鱼(0～57日龄)的异速生长模式.结果显示:鲈鲤仔鱼全长由慢速生长到快速生长的转折点为25日龄;其多数外部器官均具有异速生长特点,头部和尾部的生长快于躯干部,均在22 ～ 27日龄出现生长拐点;眼径在14 ～ 15日龄较早出现生长拐点,促使眼睛充分发育,以提高早期仔鱼开口期摄食外源食物的能力;吻长在33～34日龄出现生长拐点,促进了口的充分发育,以适应不同的饵料环境;胸鳍、背鳍、尾鳍、臀鳍和腹鳍分别在13～14日龄、31～32日龄、32 ～33日龄、38 ～39日龄、43 ～ 44日龄出现生长拐点,除胸鳍和尾鳍外,其余各鳍的鳍条均在拐点处分化完全,即鲈鲤仔鱼的游泳能力已得到大幅提高.研究表明,鲈鲤仔鱼的异速生长模式,保证了各重要功能器官的充分发育,以适应多变的环境,有效地保障了其早期的生存,可为育苗生产和野生早期资源的保护提供技术支撑.     

施氏鲟仔鱼发育圾异速生长模型

施氏鲟仔鱼的生长发育可分为两个时期:卵黄囊期(或称为自由胚期),即从刚出膜(0日龄,10.17±0.63 mm)到初次开口(9日龄,18.93±0.74 mm);晚期,从开口摄食至器官发育基本完全(38日龄,41.89±5.09 mm).卵黄囊期仔鱼的感觉、摄食、呼吸、游泳等器官快速分化;晚期仔鱼各骨板分化并发育,在形态上逐渐完成向成鱼的转变.对施氏鲟仔鱼异速生长进行的研究表明,仔鱼许多关键器官均存在异速生长现象,如眼径、口宽、尾鳍长、胸鳍长分别在2日龄、8~9日龄、10日龄、11日龄出现生长拐点,拐点之前器官快速生长,拐点之后生长速度减慢甚至近似等速生长.施氏鲟仔鱼各器官呈现出协调和快速发育的特征,随着重要的感觉、摄食、呼吸、游泳等器官的发育和完善,仔鱼快速地具备了躲避敌害和摄食的能力,其生存能力大大提高.     

Growth and development of Massaliatrema misgurni (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) in mice and its metacercarial morphology

The morphology of metacercariae of Massaliatrema misgurni Ohyama et al. (Ohyama et al., Parasitol Int 2001; 50; 267–71) was described, and their infectivity, egg output, growth and development in mice until day 35 post infection (PI) were studied. Metacercarial cysts from loaches imported from China to Japan were 199–349 μm in diameter and consisted of a very thick translucent outer layer and a refractile inner layer. Excysted metacercariae basically had the shape of miniature adults, and a pair of pre-developed testes but no other genital organs were recognized. The worm recovery rate from mice was 36.7–51.7% during days 3–7 PI, and decreased remarkably to 2.5 and 1.7% at days 28 and 35 PI. The prepatent period was 3–4 days, and the egg output quickly increased and sustained high levels at days 5–7 PI, then decreased suddenly at day 8 PI, and continued at a low level until day 28 PI. The size of the body and inner organs such as the oral sucker, pharynx, acetabulum, testes, ovary and seminal receptacle quickly increased until day 3 PI, and sustained at a plateau level until day 21 PI except testes which gradually decreased until 21 PI. The number of the uterine eggs increased with a short time lag compared to other genital organs and sustained a plateau level until day 21 PI. Compared with other Heterophyidae species, M. misgurni was characterized by the remarkably fast growth and development.     

Growth and form of the fourth-stage larvae and early adults of Ascaris suum Goeze, 1782 (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) developing in pigs

The fourth-stage larvae and adults of Ascaris suum were studied as they developed in the pig intestine from 11 to 22 days after infection. This is a period of rapid growth, in which both sexes increase approximately ten-fold in body length. Further examination of females showed the length increase to be positively allometric with respect to body diameter. The genital primordium in early fourth stage is at the same relative position along the length of the body as it is in the newly hatched larva. During development from fourth stage to adulthood the greater growth of the posterior part of the worm causes the relative position of the developing vulva to shift anteriad.