Observations on Nutrition of Bdelloura candida (Turbellaria), an Ectocommensal of Limulus polyphemus (Xiphosura)

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Abstract
B. candida and L. polyphemus fed on fish placed on the undersurface of Limulus. Cryostat sections of fed worms showed fish muscle striations in the lumen of the gut immediately after feeding, and extracellular proteolysis was observed in the lumen within 1 h postfeeding. Ingesta were not observed in unfed worms, i.e., worms removed from unfed hosts, or in starved worms, i.e., worms maintained 7 days in artificial seawater. Fed worms showed acid phosphatase activity in the gut, whereas starved worms showed lipase, acid and alkaline phosphatase gut activity. Esterase and leucine aminopeptidase activities were not detected in the gut of any worm. Glycogen was observed in the gut, parenchyma, body and pharyngeal musculature of unfed and fed worms, and was minimally present in starved worms. Lipid was abundant in the gut of starved and unfed worms but minimal in the gut of fed worms. Previous observations that B. candida is an ectocommensal, capable of feeding on host food material are substantiated. Acid phosphatase activity in the ventral tegument of worms, suggests that B. candida may obtain metabolites from its host.

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