Tissues of sparganum of Spirometra
(a larval stage) contain mineral concretions termed calcareous corpuscles.
These corpuscles serve as a focal deposition of calcium protecting the larvae
against calcification. Calcareous corpuscles are believed to form either
intracellular or extracellular and the cell type involved, the place of
formation and the mechanism of mineral deposition seem to be also diverse. In
the present study, histological studies of spargana were made at the light
microscope level. It was intended to ascertain if calcareous corpuscles are
present in the body of sparganum of Spirometra
species. Spargana recovered from naturally infected frogs (R. cancrivora)
had thick heads and thin bodies. The result of histological sections of the
spargana stained with Haematoxylin-eosin showed calcareous corpuscles which
were ovoid in shape and irregularly distributed in the parenchyma of the body
of spargana. A total of 13 spargana were measured and the range of length was
11–50 mm and width 0.5–1.5 mm. The mean measurements were 27.6 x 0.9 mm. In
conclusion, the spargana of Spirometra species
have calcareous corpuscles in the body parenchyma.
Author(s)
Details
Nicholas
J. Kavana
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, St. Francis
University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ibs/v10/3680G
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