Fine structure and cytochemical analysis of the intestinal wall along the body of adult female of Litomosoides chagasfilhoi (Nematoda: Filarioidea)

Abstract

Litomosoides chagasfilhoi is a filariid nematode parasite of the abdominal cavity of the wild rodent Akodon cursor (Winge, 1887), that has been described and used in Brazil as a new model for human filariasis. The fine structure of the intestine of this nematode was analyzed based on observations made by light and transmission electron microscopies of serial sections along the body. Cytochemical analysis was carried out to investigate the composition of the intestinal wall. This structure consisted of a basal lamina and an epithelium of variable thickness, composed of cells that have an irregular shape. The cytoplasm of intestinal cells contains few organelles: vacuoles, lysosomal bodies, spheroid bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, and many large lipid droplets. In the anterior portion of the intestine, the lysosomal bodies, spheroid bodies, and vacuoles presented positive reaction for acid phosphatase, and carbohydrates were detected in lysosomal bodies. The midbody and posterior regions presented less organelles and lipid droplets, and nuclei were more abundant. Residues of L-fucose were detected by Ulex europaeus lectin binding in the midbody sections. Basic proteins were associated to lipid droplets, in the posterior region. In the whole extension of the intestine, carbohydrates were detected on tight junctions. These results indicate that the metabolized material in the epithelium can contribute to the microfilariae development and also probably can be involved with the excretory/secretory mechanism of these nematodes.

Effects of albendazole on Litomosoides chagasfilhoi (Nematoda: Filarioidea) females in vivo

“…(Davidson 1983). In the cytoplasm of the intestinal cells, we observed vacuoles, lysosomal bodies, and lipid droplets, similar to that observed in L. chagasfilhoi (Moraes-Neto et al 2006). This result is in contrast to previous observations where treatment of Ascaris suum, Aspiculuris tetraptera, and Heterakis spumosa with benzimidazoles resulted in alterations in the fine structure of the intestinal cells (Borges and Nollin 1975;Comley 1980;Zintz and Frank 1982).…”

“…Experimental models have been used in various filarial studies (Moraes-Neto et al 2006;Cárdenas and Lanfredi 2008), shedding light on the biology and the host-parasite relationship of these nematodes and enhancing the knowledge of drug action (Franz et al 1987(Franz et al , 1990.…”

Microbiota and gut ultrastructure of Anisakis pegreffii isolated from stranded cetaceans in the Adriatic Sea

“…Indeed, several double-membraned vesicles were observed near such infoldings in the L4 intestine. However, these infoldings and vesicles might also serve as transcoelomatic transport between enterocytes and other nematode organs, as was suggested for similar structures in adult Litomosoides chagasfilhoi [55].…”