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Scanning electron microscopic observations on adult Spirocerca lupi (Nematoda: Spirurida, Thelaziidae)

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Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface ultrastructure of adult worms of Spirocerca lupi. At the anterior end of both sexes, the mouth is hexagonal, without definite lips. Around the mouth, two pairs of submedian cephalic papillae and two lateral amphids are present. There is a pair of lateral cervical papillae. At the anterior end of the body, on the ventral side, an excretory pore is seen. In the female, the vulva is located anteriorly and the tail is blunt, with a pair of subterminal phasmids. The male tail is spiral, with four pairs of preanal papillae, a single large median preanal papilla on the anterior lip of the cloacal aperture, two pairs of postanal papillae, four pairs of tiny papillae near the tip of the tail and two subterminal phasmids. The cuticle shows an abnormal tumour-like mass in two cases.

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Acknowledgements

The author wish to express her appreciation to Professor Larry A. Arsenault, Head of the Electron Microscope Facility, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada for his assistance in providing all facilities during the study. Also, the author is grateful to Mr. Ernie Spitzer, Chief Technician, and to all technicians in the Electron Microscope Facility for their help. Meanwhile, thanks are due to Dr. Hamed Seifi and Dr. H. A. Seifi for critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, P.O. Box 1177, Urmia, Iran

    Soraya Naem

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  1. Soraya Naem
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Correspondence to Soraya Naem.

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Naem, S. Scanning electron microscopic observations on adult Spirocerca lupi (Nematoda: Spirurida, Thelaziidae). Parasitol Res 92, 265–269 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-1037-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-1037-9

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