Summary
The ultrastructure of the excretory bladder of the free living cercaria and metacercaria of Cercaria stunkardi is described. The bladder is lined by a single layer of large nucleated “cells” the lateral plasma membranes of which are incomplete proximally. The structure is therefore a syncytium. Microrugae on the luminal surface of the “cells” suggest uptake and the occurrence of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes in the cytoplasm, high metabolic activity. Possible functions of the bladder epithelium and its contained secretory bodies are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowers, E.A., James, B.L.: Studies on the morphology, ecology and life cycle of Meiogymnophallus minutus (Cobbold, 1859) comb. nov. (Trematoda: Gymnophallidae). Parasitology 57, 607–625 (1967)
Cable, R.M.: ‘Thereby hangs a tail’. J. Parasit. 51, 3–12 (1965)
Cardell, R.R.: Observations on the ultrastructure of the body of the cercaria of Himasthla quissetensis (Miller and Northup, 1926). Trans. Amer. micr. Soc. 81, 124–131 (1962)
Erasmus, D.A.: Ultrastructural observations on the reserve bladder system of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962 (Trematoda: Strigeoidea) with special reference to lipid excretion. J. Parasit. 53, 525–536 (1967)
Gibson, D.I.: Some ultrastructural studies on the excretory bladder of Podocotyle staffordi Miller, 1941 (Digenea). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Zool.) 24a, 461–465 (1973)
Gibson, D.I.: Aspects of the ultrastructure of the daughter-sporocyst and cercaria of Podocotyle staffordi Miller, 1941 (Digeanea; Opecoelidae) Norw. J. Zool. 22, 237–252 (1974)
James, M.: The ultrastructure and histochemistry of Digenea from littoral molluscs. Ph.D. thesis, University College of Swansea 1973
Kruidenier, F.J.: Ultrastructure of the excretory system of cercariae. J. Parasit. 45, 59 (1959)
Krupa, P.L., Cousineau, G.H., Bal, A.K.: Electron microscopy of the excretory vesicle of a trematode cercaria. J. Parasit. 55, 985–992 (1969)
Leong, C.H.D., Howell, M.J.: Formation and structure of the cyst wall of Strictodora lari (Trematoda: Heterophyidae). Z. Parasitenk. 35, 340–350 (1971)
McManus, D.P., James, B.L.: Anaerobic glucose metabolism in the digestive gland of Littorina saxatilis rudis (Maton) and in the daughter sporocyst of Microphallus similis (Jäg.) (Digenea: Microphallidae). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 51, 293–297 (1975a)
McManus, D.P., James, B.L.: Aerobic glucose metabolism in the digestive gland of Littorina saxatilis rudis (Maton) and in the daughter sporocysts of Microphallus similis (Jäg.). Z. Parasitenk. 46, 265–275 (1975b)
Pantelouris, E.M., Threadgold, L.T.: The excretory system of the adult Fasciola hepatica L. Cellule 64, 61–67 (1963)
Popiel, I.: The ultrastructure of the metacercaria of Cercaria stunkardi Palombi, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) in an experimental intermediate host. Norw. J. Zool. 24, 353–364 (1976)
Powell, E.C.: Optical and electron microscope studies on the excretory bladder of the supposed epitheliocystid cercaria of Ochetosoma aniarum. Z. Parasitenk. 40, 19–30 (1972)
Powell, E.C.: Studies on the excretory “Bladder” and caudal ducts of the supposed anepitheliocystid cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. Z. Parasitenk. 43, 43–52 (1973)
Senft, A.W., Phillpot, D.E., Pelofsky, A.H.: Electron microscope observations on the integument, flame cells and gut of Schistosoma mansoni. J. Parasit. 47, 217–229 (1961)
Wilson, R.A.: Fine structure of the tegument of the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica L. J. Parasit. 55, 124–133 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Popiel, I. The ultrastructure of the excretory bladder of the free living cercaria and metacercaria of Cercaria stunkardi Palombi, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae). Z. Parasitenk. 51, 249–260 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384811
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384811