Introduction to Structures & Life Cycle Stages Flashcards
what are the 3 categories of helminths?
- nematodes
- cestodes
- trematodes
What are nematodes?
roundworms
What are cestodes?
tapeworms
what are trematodes?
flukes
What phylum do cestodes & trematodes belong to?
Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
Defining features of a nematode?
tubes & tails
What important structures do nematodes have on their head ends?
alae, buccal capsule, teeth, pharynx
What important cuticular structures are in the male nematode’s tail?
copulatory bursa with finger-like structures called bursal rays, cloaca, spicules, vas deferens, testis, asymmetric dorsal lobe
What are the basic features of nematodes?
- parasitic & free-living stages & spp
- tiny (less than 1 mm) to enormous (1 m)
- separate sexes (dioecious), sexual reproduction w/in definitive host (DH)
- eggs (oviparous), larvated eggs (ovoviviparous), or larvae (viviparous)
- direct & indirect life cycles
- host & tissue specificity
- larvae can undergo complicated migrations & cause pathology
Direct life cycle of a nematode?
Eggs hatch in the external enviro -> first stage larvae (L1) -> moult -> 2nd stage larvae (L2) -> moult (translation) -> 3rd stage larvae (L3) is ensheathed -> moult & move into host as 4th stage larvae (L4) -> moult -> adults -> mate -> eggs
Defining features of a cestode?
hooks & segments (hooks present in eggs & larvae also)
What is the structure of a cyclophyllid (order cyclophyllidea) cestode?
- head or scolex with 4 suckers & a rostellum w/ hooks for attachment to host
- neck
- body (strobila) w/ immature segments, mature segments, & gravid segments from cranial to caudal
segment aka proglottid
What are the basic features of cestodes?
- all spp are parasitic (need a host) & hermaphroditic (can reproduce themselves)
- some tiny (2 mm), some enormous (12 m+)
- transmission is by INGESTION (DH ingests IH, IH ingests eggs)
- ALL HAVE INDIRECT LIFE CYCLE w/ intermediate host
- adults in DH parasitize the GI system, MAY cause a few problems (not v pathogenic), & produce eggs immediately infective
- larval stages in tissues of IH may cause serious problems
- asexual reproduction (amplification) may occur
- we will focus mostly on cyclophyllid cestodes except 1 pseudophyllid
What kind of life cycle do cestodes have and what do they need for it ?
- indirect life cycle w/ environmental stage
- need environment, direct host, indirect host, & parasite
What is the cyclophyllid cestode life cycle?
egg w/ hexacanth larvae passes out of the host & into the external environment via the feces -> this egg is ingested by the intermediate host -> hatches -> HEXACANT LARVAE develop into METACESTODE w/ 1 or more protoscolices -> intermediate host is ingested by definitive host where protoscolices develop into scolex in adults -> eggs are formed
What are the different types of cyclophyllid metacestode larvae?
- Cysticercoid - single protoscolex
- Coenurus - multiple protoscolices
- Cystic hydatid - multiple protoscolices, feels like sand inside when opened
- Cysticerus - single protoscolex & a bladder
What are the defining features of trematodes (Class Digenea)?
snails & suckers
important features in trematode structure?
- mouth, oral sucker, pharynx, esophagus, genital atrium, acetabulum or ventral sucker, excretory vesicle, seminal vesicle, vitelline glands, vitelline duct, uterus, vas deferens, ovary, oviduct, seminal receptacle, ootype, vitelline reservior, testes, Mehlis’ gland, nephridiopore
What are the basic features of trematodes?
- ALL PARASITIC
- from tiny (<1 mm) to giant (10 cm)
- MOST ARE HERMAPHRODITIC (EXCEPT SCHISTOSOMES)
- sexual reproduction occurs in DH
- all have an indirect life cycle w/ intermediate host(s) (first IH is always a gastropod (slug or snail) where asexual reproduction occurs)
- adults in DH parasitize GIT or lungs; often pathogenic
- larval stages in IH parasitize many tissues; can be pathogenic (snail castrators, zombie ants)
What kind of life cycle do trematodes have and what do they need for it ?
- indirect life cycle w/ 2 intermediate hosts
- need appropriate environment, IH #1 (snail), IH #2, DH mammal, and the parasite
What is the basic life cycle of trematodes?
egg containing morula is passed in the feces into the external environment (usually H2O) -> morula develops into a miracidium -> hatches (sheds it’s capsule) -> miracidium penetrates the foot of the 1st intermediate host (snail) -> asexual reproduction & development through several stages occurs here -> goes into IH 2 or vegetation as a metacercaria larvae -> ingested into definitive host as adult -> has eggs
Size of nematodes?
<1mm - 1m
Size of cestodes?
2 mm to 12 m
size of trematodes?
1 mm to 10 cm
parasitism in nematodes?
MANY are parasites
parasitism in cestodes?
all parasitic
parasitism in trematodes?
all parasitic
sex in nematodes?
dioecious (separate sexes)
sex in cestodes?
hermaphroditic
sex in trematodes?
most hermaphroditic (except schistosomes)
reproduction in nematodes?
sexual reproduction in definitive host; producing eggs, larvated eggs or larvae
reproduction in cestodes?
sexual in definitive host; and asexual in intermediate host (amplification)
reproduction in trematodes?
sexual in definitive host; asexual in intermediate host
what is the life cycle of nematodes?
direct or indirect
what is the life cycle of cestodes?
indirect
what is the life cycle of trematodes?
indirect; involves a gastropod & may involve another intermediate host
what is the pathogenicity of nematodes?
variable - larvae can undergo migration, adults can suck blood
what is the pathogenicity of cestodes?
- ADULTS IN DEFINITIVE HOST - MAY cause a few symptoms
- LARVAL TISSUE STAGES IN INTERMEDIATE HOST may cause serious problems