Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T05:10:48.828Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Self Insemination in Echinococcus granulosus in vivo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2009

J. D. Smyth
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
M. M. Smyth
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Extract

Self insemination appears to be the normal process of sperm transfer in Echinococus granulosus and has been observed in both terminal and subterminal proglottids of worms from dogs.

Cross fertilization between adjacent proglottids or between proglottids of different strobila was not observed.

In some instances, the genital pore was found occluded by a ‘plug’ of material which may represent an antige–antibody precipitate.

The implications of self-insemination in relation to in vitro studies and to the genetics of ‘strain’ production in the genus Echinococcus are discussed.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dollfus, R. Ph., 1940.—“Cestodes du Genre Raillietina trouvés chez l'Homme en Amérique Intertropicale.” Annis Parasit. hum. comp., 17, 415442.Google Scholar
Hyman, L. H., 1951.—The Invertebrates. Vol. II. Platyhelminthes and Rhynchocoela. McGraw-Hill, New York and London, 550 pp.Google Scholar
Joyeux, Ch. and Barr, J. G., 1961.—“Classe des Cestodes.” In Traité de Zoologie, Anatomie, Systématique, Biologie. 4. Plathelminthes, Mesozaires, Acanthocéphales, Némertiens.” Masson et Cie., Paris. 944 pp.Google Scholar
Rausch, R. L., 1967.—“A consideration of infraspecific categories in the genus Echinococcus Rndolphi, 1801 (Cestoda: Taeniidae).” J. Parasif., 53, 484491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rausch, R. L., 1968.—“Taxonomic characters in the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae).” Bull. Wld Hlth Org., 39, 14.Google Scholar
Smyth, J. D., 1969a.—“The biology of the hydatid organisms.” Adv. Parasit., 7, 327347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smyth, J. D., 1969b.—The Physiology of Cestodes. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
Smyth, J. D., Miller, H. J. and Howkins, A. B., 1967.—“Further analysis of the factors controlling strobilization, differentiation and maturation of Echinococcus grauulosus in vitro.” Expl Parasit., 21, 3141.Google Scholar
Smyth, J. D. and Smyth, M. M., 1964.—“Natural and experimental hosts of Echiuococcus granulosus and F. multilocularis, with comments on the genetics of speciation in the genus Echinococcus.” Parasitology, 54, 493514.Google Scholar
Williams, H. H. and McVicar, A., 1968.—“Sperm transfer in Tetraphyllidea (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda).” Nytt Mag. Zool., 16, 6171.Google Scholar