Variations in the ultrastructure of the daughter sporocyst ofMicrophallus pygmaeus(Levinsen, 1881) (Digenea: Microphallidae) in chemically defined media

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Abstract
Summary: Changes in the ultrastructure of the daughter sporocyst and contained metacercariae ofMicrophallus pygmaeusduring culture in artificial seawater and modified Medium 199 were examined and compared with variations in oxygen consumption. The very early commencement and rapid progression of autolysis in the sporocyst body wall as compared with little or no change in most metacercariae in both media, together with the elevated oxygen consumption in the nutrient medium, suggests that most of the oxygen is consumed by the contained metacercariae. The almost simultaneous onset of body wall degeneration in both media suggests that the nutrient medium is not suitable for the maintenance of healthy daughter sporocysts.