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First SEM observations on adult Habronema microstoma (Spirurida: Habronematidae), a parasite of the horse

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Abstract

Habronema microstoma (Spirurida: Habronematidae) is found in the stomach of equines and uses the stable fly as its intermediate host. This nematode causes pathogenic effects in the stomach wall, skin and eye of the host. The present study reports the morphological features of adult worms, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The worms had two bilobed lateral lips surrounding the mouth. The buccal vestibule was markedly thickened, and two tridentate teeth were observed. Around the mouth, four sub-median cephalic papillae and two amphids were seen. A pair of lateral cervical papillae was present. There was only one lateral ala in both sexes. In the female, the vulva was opened in the middle of the body. In the male, there were wide caudal alae, and the spicules were unequal. At the posterior end of the male, four pairs of stalked pre-cloacal papillae, a single lateral pre-cloacal papilla, two pairs of post-cloacal papillae and a cluster of small papillae were present.

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Acknowledgment

The author expresses her gratitude 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. In addition, the valuable help of Mr. Ernie Spitzer, Chief technician, and all technicians in the electron microscope facility is acknowledged. The author thanks Dr. Donato Traversa of the Department of Biomedical Comparative Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Italy, for providing some valuable references. Finally, the author is particularly indebted to Dr. Christine M. Budke of Texas A&M University, USA, for her continuous support and critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Pathobiology, College 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. First SEM observations on adult Habronema microstoma (Spirurida: Habronematidae), a parasite of the horse. Parasitol Res 101, 743–749 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0544-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0544-5

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