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Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Deropristis Inflata Molin, 1859 (Digenea, Deropristidae), a parasite of Anguilla anguilla

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Abstract

To our knowledge, this paper describes the first ultrastructural results on spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of a Digenea belonging to the family Deropristidae, Deropristis inflata. Spermiogenesis follows the usual pattern found in the digeneans, but a single noteworthy characteristic concerns the centriole, which presents a “prominent pear-shaped electron-dense region.” Spermiogenesis in D. inflata begins with the formation of a differentiation zone. The two centrioles give rise to flagella. These two flagella undergo a rotation of 90° and fuse with the median cytoplasmic process. The proximo-distal fusion occurs at the level of attachment zones. The mature spermatozoon of D. inflata possesses five regions and presents all the features found in the digenean gamete. However, several characteristics allow us to distinguish the spermatozoon of D. inflata from other digenetic trematoda, namely the external ornamentations of the plasmic membrane, the anterior and posterior extremities. Furthermore, the distal part of the nucleus in front of those of the mitochondria appears such a distinctive criterion in the spermatozoon of this species. Our ultrastructural investigations produce new data on the reproduction of D. inflata, which may be useful for the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships in the Deropristidae family.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the Biguglia reserve for providing us with eels.

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  1. Laboratoire Parasites et Ecosystèmes Méditerranéens, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Corse, Campus Grossetti, 20250, Corte, France

    Joséphine Foata, Yann Quilichini & Bernard Marchand

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  1. Joséphine Foata
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  2. Yann Quilichini
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  3. Bernard Marchand
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Correspondence to Joséphine Foata.

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Foata, J., Quilichini, Y. & Marchand, B. Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Deropristis Inflata Molin, 1859 (Digenea, Deropristidae), a parasite of Anguilla anguilla . Parasitol Res 101, 843–852 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0550-7

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