Neuromuscular organization and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae)

Most gyrodactylids have a haptor armed with a pair of hamuli, two connecting bars and 16 marginal hooks. In some gyrodactylids, however, the haptor is disc-shaped and reinforced by additional sclerites. The genus Polyclithrum has arguably the most elaborate haptor in this group. This study aimed to gain better understanding of the anatomy of Polyclithrum by examining neuromusculature and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum, a species parasitizing Mugil cephalus in the Black Sea, with emphasis on haptoral sclerites and musculature in connection with host-attachment mechanisms. Musculature was stained by phalloidin, the nervous system by anti-serotonin and anti-FMRFamide antibodies, and haptoral sclerites were visualized in reflected light. The study provided new information on sclerites: in addition to previously described supplementary sclerites (A1-6), ear-shaped sclerites (ESSs) and two paired groups of ribs, reflected light revealed a rod-shaped process on the ESSs and a pair of small posterior sclerites. The sclerites were shown to be operated by 16 muscles, the most prominent of which were two transverse muscles connecting the hamular roots, three muscles attached to sclerite A2, the muscle fibres of anterior ribs and a set of extrinsic muscles. The nervous system consists of a pair of cerebral ganglia connected by a commissure and three pairs of nerve cords that unite in the haptor to form a loop between the opposite cords. The arrangement of sclerites and muscles suggests that Polyclithrum initiates the attachment by clamping a host's surface with longitudinally folded haptor and then secures its position with marginal hooks.

First evidence of serotoninergic components in the nervous system of the monogenean Chimaericola leptogaster (Chimaericolidae, Polyopisthocotylea), a gill parasite of the relict holocephalan fish

The localisation and distribution of the serotoninergic nerve elements was studied for the first time in the flatworm Chimaericola leptogaster (Leuckart, 1830) using immunocytochemical methodology and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The musculature was investigated by histochemical staining of actin filaments; scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the sensory structures on the worm's surface. Uniciliated, bi-ciliated and multiciliated sensory endings have been described on the worm's surface. The morphological data demonstrate the presence of circular, longitudinal and diagonal muscles that comprise the musculature of C. leptogaster in the anterior, median and posterior body regions. Well-developed radial and circular muscle fibres were also observed surrounding the genital pore, two vaginae and in clumps of the haptor. The study revealed the presence of biogenic amine, serotonin, in the central and peripheral nervous systems of C. leptogaster: in the neurons and fibres of the cephalic ganglia and ventral nerve cord, in the innervation of reproductive system compartments. The localised sites of the serotoninergic elements point to important roles of serotonin in monogenean reproductive processes and, possibly, in the regulation of muscle function.

Muscular Arrangement and Sclerite Morphology in the Haptor of Tetraonchus monenteron (Monogenea, Dactylogyridea)

BACKGROUND : Tetraonchidae is a small and relatively monomorphic family of dactylogyroid monogeneans. Since the morphology of sclerites of the attachment organ (haptor) is one of the primary criteria in tetraonchid taxonomy, the confocal study of sclerites and associated musculature may provide valuable taxonomic information. PURPOSE : The aim of this study was to examine the haptoral sclerites and musculature in Tetraonchus monenteron (Wagener, 1857), a common parasite of pike.

METHODS

Haptoral musculature of T. monenteron was studied using phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy, with sclerites visualized in the reflection confocal mode.

RESULTS

Haptoral armature of T. monenteron consists of ventral and dorsal pairs of anchors, a ventral bar, eight pairs of marginal hooks and at least three pairs of accessory sclerites. Anchors are operated by 14 muscles, of which the most prominent are extrinsic muscles, the transverse muscle interconnecting the ventral anchors, three muscles connecting the ventral anchor to the ventral bar, and four muscles of the dorsal and ventral anchors inserting on the haptoral wall. The extrinsic muscles are attached to the braceshaped sclerites, which in turn are connected to the dorsal anchors via muscle bundles.

CONCLUSION

The gaffing action of the dorsal anchors is likely to be achieved by the extrinsic muscles and the transverse muscle that clamps the extrinsic muscles against the body wall. The ventral anchors are probably held in attached position by the transverse muscle and four muscles inserting on the ventral bar and haptoral wall. The haptoral musculature may have potential utility for tetraonchid taxonomy.