Abstract
The morphology of the body wall and the gut in the midbody region of adult male and femaleLoa loa originating from patients in Gabon was studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The cuticle of the dorsal and ventral regions consists of ten layers. In the lateral regions the cuticle is thicker and includes two additional layers. The thin hypodermis contains numerous transhypodermal fibres. A row of median cells is situated between the syncytia in each lateral chord. No intracellular bacteria were observed. The cross-sections of each of the four muscle sectors are comprised of approximately 12 muscle cells of the coelomyarian type. The plasm of the gut cells contains large vacuoles and several mitochondria. The intestinal wall surrounds a wide lumen filled with material which occasionally contains cellular structures. The morphology ofL. loa is compared with that of adultOnchocerca volvulus andBrugia malayi. The gut of the adultL. loa has the typical nematode morphology, which might be an indication of its normal function in nutrition. The multilayered cuticle with the rather smooth surface, and the prominent muscles correspond to the migratory activity of this filaria.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Connor DH, Neafie RC, Meyers WM (1976) Loiasis. In: Binford CH, Connor DH (eds) Pathology of tropical and extraordinary diseases, Vol. 2. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington D.C., pp 356–359
Deas JE, Aguilar FJ, Miller JH (1974) Fine structure of the cuticle of femaleOnchocerca volvulus. J Parasitol 60:1006–1012
Franz M (1980) Electron microscope study of the cuticle of male and femaleOnchocerca volvulus from various geographic areas. Tropenmed Parasitol 31:149–164
Franz M (1982a) The fine structure of adultOnchocerca volulus. I. The cuticle, the hypodermis and the muscle cells of the male worm. Tropenmed Parasitol 33:69–75
Franz M (1982b) The fine structure of adultOnchocerca volvulus. II. The intestine and the reproductive system of the male worm. Tropenmed Parasitol 33:169–174
Franz M, Büttner DW (1983a) The fine structure of adultOnchocerca volvulus. III. The cuticle, the interchordal hypodermis and the muscle cells of the female worm. Tropenmed Parasitol 34:61–69
Franz M, Büttner DW (1983b) The fine structure of adultOnchocerca volvulus. IV. The hypodermal chords of the female worm. Tropenmed Parasitol 34:122–128
Franz M, Büttner DW (1983c) The fine structure of adultOnchocerca volvulus. V. The digestive tract and the reproductive system of the female worm. Tropenmed Parasitol 34:155–161
Lee CC, Miller JH (1967) Fine structure ofDirofilaria immitis body-wall musculature. Exp Parasitol 20:334–344
Lenze W (1982) Rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an geschlechtsreifenBrugia malayi, Loa loa, Dirofilaria sp. (SubgenusNochtiella) undOnchocerca volvulus (Nematoda: Filarioidea). Dissertation, Univ. Hamburg
Loos A (1904) Zur Kenntnis des Baues derFilaria loa Guyot. Zool Jahrb Abt Syst 20:549–574
Melles J (1983) Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen vonLoa loa (Nematoda: Filarioidea). Dissertation, Univ. Hamburg
Vincent AL, Ash LR, Frommes SP (1975a) The ultrastructure of adultBrugia malayi (Brug 1927) (Nematode: Filarioidea). J Parasitol 61:499–512
Vincent AL, Portaro JK, Ash LR (1975b) A comparison of the body wall ultrastructure ofBrugia pahangi with that ofBrugia malayi. J Parasitol 61:567–570
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Franz, M., Melles, J. & Büttner, D.W. Electron microscope study of the body wall and the gut of adultLoa loa . Z. Parasitenkd. 70, 525–536 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926694
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926694