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Report of a two-headed protoscolex of Echinococcus granulosus revealed by phase contrast microscopy in Shiraz, Iran

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Abstract

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato can produce cystic echinococcosis (CE)/hydatidosis in different hosts. Each CE cyst can produce numerous protoscoleces by its germinal layer in two forms: evaginated and invaginated. Usually, each protoscolex has one head consisting of a rostellum with two rows of hooks and four suckers. During a study of protoscolicidal agents on sheep Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces, and investigations on their microscopic changes using Phase contrast microscopy, we observed a case of two- headed evaginated protoscolex. Two heads were attached to a unique bigger size of protoscolex body. Morphological observations showed its dimension around two times of usual protoscolex. There was no space between the bodies, hence one fused body was observed which was clearly shown by Phase contrast microscopy. Each head possessed two rows of hooks. Using micrometry all parts of the two-headed protoscolex, especially hooks were measured and photographed showing all aspects of its morphology including tegument, hooks, and two heads. Specific parts of two-headed protoscolex including suckers, hooks, also calcareous corpuscles were measured. The measurements on the two-headed protoscolex showed that the small hook blade length (SBL) and large hook blade length (LBL) were almost langer than one head protoscolex. A total of 120 calcareous corpuscles in two headed-protoscolex is much higher than one head protoscoleces.

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Funding

This study was financed by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. (Grant number: Research 17051).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71345-1735, Shiraz, Iran

    Elaheh Karpisheh & Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi

Authors
  1. Elaheh Karpisheh
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  2. Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi
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Contributions

Conceptualization: EKP, SMS. Data curation, formal analysis, funding acquisition, investigation, methodology, project administration, resources, software, supervision, validation; and visualization: EKP, SMS. Photos: SMS. Draft manuscript: EKP. Reviewing and approval for submission: SMS.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was carried out based on the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (ethical code: IR.SUMS.MED.REC.1398.582).

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Karpisheh, E., Sadjjadi, S.M. Report of a two-headed protoscolex of Echinococcus granulosus revealed by phase contrast microscopy in Shiraz, Iran. J Parasit Dis 47, 692–695 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01609-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01609-3

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