Acanthocephalan Parasites

Question 1

Acanthocephala morphology

Answer 1

Thorny-headed worms
adult in digestive tract of
-mammals, fish, birds, reptiles
pseudocoelomate
dioecious
male/female repo systems
no digestive tract!!!
-nutrients absorbed across tegument
Hooked proboscis and flattened appearance bears superficial resemblance to tapeworms
eggs w/ elongate hooked embryo

Question 2

Acanthocephala unique characteristics

Answer 2

unique musculature in anterior end to manage hydraulic control of proboscis
middle body musculature assist w/ nutrient and waste transport bc no digestive
Ach stimulation
**Implications for drug activity and overall efficacy

Question 3

Acanthocephala life cycle

Answer 3

obligate indirect lifecycle
-arthropod IH
common in wildlife, sometimes companion, and swine production
incidental zoonotic

Question 4

marcoacanthorhynchus hirudinaceus

Answer 4

once important in swine production, eliminated w confinement production
Often mistaken for taenia solium
-Adult tapeworms not in small intestine !!!!

Question 5

onicola canis

Answer 5

in small intestine
occasionally seen in dogs and cats
common in coyotes, fox, bobcat
lizards, birds, and small mammals facilitate transmission
-paratenic hosts w/ cystacanth stage in tissues
May be more prevalent than we know:
eggs don’t float well
rarely associated with clinical disease

Question 6

prosthenorchis elegans

Answer 6

important in zoological and laboratory primate colonies
infected animals are close proximity to IH cockroaches
accumulation of clinically significant worm burdens

Question 7

prosthenorchis elegans clinical significance

Answer 7

trauma in DH caused by penetration of proboscis
-attach, release, re-attach associated with significant pain, trauma to intestinal mucosa
Morbidity and mortality
-diarrhea, dysorexia, death

Question 8

prosthenorchis elegans diagnosis

Answer 8

association with clinical signs
residence w infected individuals
availability and access to IH
fecal
-eggs don’t float well bc heavy
-gravitational sediment
-oval shapes eggs w layered hooked acanthor
CONTROL: treatment of infective egg shedders and remove IH

Question 9

do swine have adult tapeworm in small intestine

Answer 9

NOOOOOO!!

Question 10

what is the difference between trematodes and acanthocephala in terms of IH?

Answer 10

acanthocephala-1 IH
trematodes-2 IH