The morphology and attachment ofProtopolystoma xenopodis(Monogenea: Polystomatidae) infecting the African clawed frogXenopus laevis

Abstract

The African clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Anura: Pipidae) is host to more than 25 parasite genera encompassing most of the parasitic invertebrate groups. Protopolystoma xenopodis Price, 1943 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) is one of two monogeneans infecting X. laevis. This study focussed on the external morphology of different developmental stages using scanning electron microscopy, histology and light microscopy. Eggs are released continuously and are washed out when the frog urinates. After successful development, an active swimming oncomiracidium leaves the egg capsule and locates a potential post-metamorphic clawed frog. The oncomiracidium migrates to the kidney where it attaches and starts to feed on blood. The parasite then migrates to the urinary bladder where it reaches maturity. Eggs are fusiform, about 300 μm long, with a smooth surface and are operculated. Oncomiracidia are elongated and cylindrical in shape, with an oval posterior cup-shaped haptor that bears a total of 20 sclerites; 16 marginal hooklets used for attachment to the kidney of the host and two pairs of hamulus primordia. Cilia from the 64 ciliated cells enable the oncomiracidium to swim for up to 24 h when the cilia subsequently curl up, become non-functional and are shed from the body. The tegument between the ciliated cells bears a series of sensory papillae. The body of the mature parasite is elongated and pyriform and possesses an opisthaptor armed with three pairs of suckers and two pairs of falciform hooks to ensure a firm grip on the flexible internal surface of the urinary bladder.

Bionomics and Morphometrics of the Tanzanian Muller's Clawed Frog Xenopus muelleri Peters (Anura: Pipidae) Corroborates Holotype with Monophyletic Oversized Lungs

“…Generally, the various species of the genus Xenopus may be easily differentiated from one another by the patterns of their skin colouration, Frankenstein stitching, fattened complexion and lung morphology. These characters clearly demonstrate that the closest relative of X. Muelleri is the African Clawed Frog X. laevis which inhabits similar ranges of the aquatic habitats in Tanzania and other African countries, as reported by other workers [9,[11][12][13][14]. Similar characters may also be used to diagnose other Xenopus spp.…”

“…almost twothird (≈ 67%) is spent surfacing. As reported earlier by various workers [10,12], this species prefers eating near the bottom, and during mating or when excited, the males normally make a low clicking call which can be heard by human up to 10 m away.…”

First parasitological study of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis, Amphibia) in Chile

“…Thus, our results were in line with our expectations, particularly as a greater richness of gastrointestinal and cavity helminths have been recorded in X. laevis in South Africa. For instance, some of the helminth species reported in African clawed frogs include Cephalochalamys namaquensis Cohn, 1906 (cestode); Protopolystoma xenopodis Price, 1943;Gyrdicotylus gallieni Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960 (monogenean); Oligolecithus jonkershoekensis Pritchard, 1964;and Progonimodiscus doyeri Ortlepp, 1926 (digenean) (PRITCHARD, 1964;THEUNISSEN et al, 2014). For a further review, see Tinsley (1996).…”

Natural history bycatch: a pipeline for identifying metagenomic sequences in RADseq data

“…All of the putative parasite taxa that we can identify with 97% certainty are known parasites of vertebrate hosts. Protopolystoma xenopodis is known from African clawed frogs, in which it attaches to the kidney and feeds on blood, thereby potentially releasing its own DNA into the host’s bloodstream ( Theunissen, Tiedt & Du Preez, 2014 ). Diphyllobothrium latum is known from the digestive tracts of a range of vertebrates, including mammals and fish ( Wicht et al, 2009 ; Schurer et al, 2016 ).…”