Attachment of Dermophthirius carcharhini (Monogenea: Microbothriidae) to the Galapagos Shark Carcharhinus galapagensis

Attachment of Dermophthirius carcharhini is described using light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Adult worms place a cup-shaped opisthohaptor over the proximal dorsal surface of a placoid scale and are firmly attached by means of a cement composed of an acellular, tyrosine...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 1986-04, Vol.105 (2), p.158-169
Main Authors: Rand, Thomas G., Wiles, Michael, Odense, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cements
Electron micrographs
Epidermis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Microvilli
Morphology. Histology. Cytology
Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha
Parasite hosts
Parasites
Secretion
Sharks
Skin
Worms
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Description
Summary:Attachment of Dermophthirius carcharhini is described using light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Adult worms place a cup-shaped opisthohaptor over the proximal dorsal surface of a placoid scale and are firmly attached by means of a cement composed of an acellular, tyrosine-rich lipoprotein. Adhesion is further enhanced by a scale-like topography of the cement and by longitudinal furrows on the ventral opisthohaptoral surface that are complementary with the surface structures and pattern of the host's placoid scale. Perhaps a reduced pressure within the opisthohaptoral cup, sealed by a parenchymatous rim, also contributes to attachment. The opisthohaptor depresses and erodes host epidermis and ruptures goblet cells in the area of attachment, presumably making the scale more susceptible to detachment by the worm.
ISSN:0003-0023
2325-5145
DOI:10.2307/3226388