Early intrauterine embryonic development of the bothriocephalidean cestode Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), a parasite of the teleost Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758) (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae)

Abstract

Development and reproduction biology/Biologie du de ´veloppement et de la reproduction Early intrauterine embryonic development of the bothriocephalidean cestode Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), a parasite of the teleost Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758) (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae) De´veloppement embryonnaire intra-ute´rin pre´coce du cestode bothrioce´phale Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), parasite du te´le´oste´en Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758) (Gadiformes : Merlucciidae)

Ultrastructural evidence for completion of the entire miracidial maturation in intrauterine eggs of the digenean Brandesia turgida (Brandes, 1888) (Plagiorchiida: Pleurogenidae)

“…In particular, the variations in maternal characteristics such as uterine structure and development may reflect differences in the maternal strategies in establishing larval readiness for progression to the next stage of the life cycle (Conn 1987, 1993; Conn and Forman 1993; Conn et al 2009; Świderski et al 2012). The early eggs of B. turgida , like those of Maritrema feliui (Świderski et al 2011a, 2013b), in comparison with the early eggs of two species of bothriocephalidean cestodes Bothriocephalus clavibothrium (Świderski and Mokhtar 1974; Świderski 1994b; Świderski and Mackiewicz 2007a, b) and Clestobothrium crassiceps (Świderski et al 2013c) as well as caryophyllidean cestode Khawia sinensis (Bruňanská et al 2012) contain a much smaller number of vitellocytes per fertilized ovum. However, during the in utero development of B. turgida eggs, both nutritive and protective functions of the vitelline cells and embryonic envelopes are taken over by the uterus.…”