New Insights into Morphological and Biological Features of Capillaria aerophila (Trichocephalida, Trichuridae)

Capillaria aerophila is a trichuroid nematode affecting the respiratory system of dogs, cats, wild carnivores and, occasionally, humans. Animals become infected by ingesting larvated eggs or earthworms, which act as facultative intermediate hosts. The aim of this work is to present new insights into...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology research (1987) 2011-08, Vol.109 (Suppl 1), p.97-104
Main Authors: Traversa, Donato, Di Cesare, Angela, Lia, Riccardo P., Castagna, Giuseppe, Meloni, Silvana, Heine, Josef, Strube, Katrin, Milillo, Piermarino, Otranto, Domenico, Meckes, Oliver, Schaper, Roland
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Capillaria
Capillaria - cytology
Capillaria - growth & development
Cat Diseases - parasitology
Cats
Dog Diseases - parasitology
Dogs
Feces - parasitology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
Immunology
Invertebrates
Larva - growth & development
Medical Microbiology
Microbiology
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha
Nematoda
Ovum - growth & development
Ovum - ultrastructure
Trichocephalida
Trichuridae
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Summary:Capillaria aerophila is a trichuroid nematode affecting the respiratory system of dogs, cats, wild carnivores and, occasionally, humans. Animals become infected by ingesting larvated eggs or earthworms, which act as facultative intermediate hosts. The aim of this work is to present new insights into morphological and biological features of this neglected lungworm. Typical features of C. aerophila eggs, differentiating them from those of most known trichuroid whipworms (i.e. size, asymmetry of bipolar plugs and a wall with a network of anastomosing ridges), were detected upon light and scanning electron microscopy. Eggs of C. aerophila were used for in vitro development. Light microscopy showed typical features of C. aerophila eggs: size, asymmetry of bipolar plugs and a wall with a network of anastomosing ridges. All these features were confirmed upon SEM, in that C. aerophila eggs showed an outer densely striated and net-like shell. Eggs of T. vulpis , used for a comparative analysis, were bigger than those of C. aerophila and showed a thick and smooth wall at both light and scanning electron microscopy. Eggs started to develop after 35 days from shedding and mobile larvae were observed in the eggs after two months. The results of this study provide key information on the biological cycle of C. aerophila and present key morphological characters for the identification of eggs in faeces.
ISSN:0932-0113
1432-1955
DOI:10.1007/s00436-011-2406-4