Biomedical subjects

Bahram S Dezfuli

Publications and source records attributed to Bahram S Dezfuli.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The role of rodlet cells in the inflammatory response in Phoxinus phoxinus brains infected with Diplostomum.

European minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus L., are commonly infected with Diplostomum phoxini Faust, 1918 metacercariae. A sub-sample of 34 minnows collected from the River Endrick, Stirlingshire, Scotland revealed that 50% of the population were infected (n = 17), with the cerebellum, medulla oblongata and the optic lobe regions of the minnow brain bearing the heaviest infections (13.7 +/- 2.6 mean +/- S.E.; 1-38 range). Serial histological sections through the brains of both uninfected and infected minnows revealed the presence of rodlet cells in the latter, which were occasionally observed in close proximity to the tegument of a metacercaria. Rodlet cells were the only type of host inflammatory cells found in this study and their role in the host's immune response to parasitic infection is commented upon.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Gill histopathology of cultured European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), infected with Diplectanum aequans (Wagener 1857) Diesing 1958 (Diplectanidae: Monogenea).

The mortality of juvenile European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), in the spring of the last 5 years in the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea has been attributed to heavy infections of the gill monogenean Diplectanum aequans (Wagener 1857) Diesing 1858. The histopathological examination of 38 sets of gills from hosts measuring 16.46 +/- 0.26 cm in total length (mean+/-S.E.) and weighing 45.98 +/- 2.37 g (mean+/-S.E.) were conducted using light and transmission electron microscopy. Twenty-eight (73.6%) D. labrax specimens were infected (34.61 +/- 4.42, mean intensity+/-S.E.; 5-100, range) with the majority of D. aequans attaching to the median and apical portions of the primary gill filaments. The sites of attachment were marked by the common presence of haemorrhages and a white mucoid exudate. In histological sections, the opisthaptors of the parasites were observed to penetrate deeply, lying in close proximity to the basal membrane of primary lamella where they induced a hyperplastic response. Disruption and fusion of the secondary lamellae were common in all infected specimens with several individuals also exhibiting a marked erosion and inflammation of the epithelium of the primary and secondary lamellae. In infected fish, cellular changes in the epithelium underlying the bodies of worms were noted typified by an elevation in the number of mucous and rodlet cells and a reduction in the number of chloride cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781) Kessler, 1868 (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea).

Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of adult Cyathocephalus truncatus, a member of presumably basal group of "true" cestodes (Eucestoda), have been examined for the first time by using transmission electron microscopy. The process of sperm formation corresponds in basic pattern to that of the Pseudophyllidea. In addition, the 2 pairs of electron-dense attachment zones are present in median cytoplasmic process of C. truncatus. However, mature spermatozoa of C. truncatus differ significantly from those of the pseudophyllideans, especially in the morphology of the proximal and distal spermatozoon extremities. The proximal extremity of the mature spermatozoon lacks a crested body, which is present in more derived cestodes and some pseudophyllideans. The distal end of the mature spermatozoa exhibits different morphology in the gametes from testes and those from receptaculum seminis. New for the Eucestoda is a finding that a lateral cytoplasmic extension creates the distal end of the spermatozoa from testes, resembling sperm of some Monogenea and Digenea. In contrast, the distal extremity of the spermatozoa from receptaculum seminis contains only a nucleus. Despite the above-mentioned peculiarities, the ultrastructural data on sperm/spermiogenesis suggest close relationships of the Spathebothriidea and Pseudophyllidea.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Vitellogenesis in two spathebothriidean cestodes.

Vitellogenesis in two spathebothriidean tapeworms, dixenous adult Cyathocephalus truncatus and monoxenous progenetic Diplocotyle olrikii, has been examined using transmission electron microscopy and cytochemical staining with periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate for glycogen. Each vitelline follicle consists of vitellocytes at various stages of development and one irregularly shaped interstitial cell. Projections of the interstitial cell enclose the vitellocytes and extend as a cytoplasmic sheath on the follicular periphery. An outer thin fibrous layer (= extracellular lamina) covers the cytoplasmic sheath in C. truncatus, but lacks in D. olrikii. Maturing and mature vitellocytes contain vitelline material in the form of single small shell globules that gradually fuse and give rise to the large shell globule clusters. Morphology of shell globule clusters differs slightly in both species. In addition, single "lamellar" granules are present in the cytoplasm of vitellocytes of C. truncatus, but not in D. olrikii. Both electron lucent and electron dense lipid droplets are present in the vitellocytes of C. truncatus, whereas only electron dense lipids occur in D. olrikii. A single lipid droplet turns up occasionally in the nuclei of some of the vitellocytes of C. truncatus. The ultrastructural features of vitellogenesis in spathebothriideans resemble those reported previously in "lower" cestodes, especially in pseudophyllideans.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Fine structure of the male reproductive ducts, vagina and seminal receptacle of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea).

Fine structure of the vas efferens, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct with accessory glands and vagina with seminal receptacle is described in the spathebothriidean tapeworm, Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781) Kessler, 1868. The numerous well-developed prostate glands are characterised by having secretory granules with an electron-dense core surrounded by a matrix of lower electron density. Coalescence of the outer part of the granules with each other takes place in the terminal end of the secretory ducts. The position of prostate glands around the proximal part of the cirrus pouch and terminating in the ejaculatory duct is a characteristic feature of the Spathebothriidea. Up to 20 closely arranged muscle layers make up the muscular cirrus pouch wall with 4 well-developed muscular layers in the ejaculatory duct and cirrus. Both the cirrus and the vagina are covered with the same uniform cone-shaped microtriches. The vagina has an extensive seminal receptacle. All of these structures are well-adapted to insure successful sperm transfer involving ejaculation and storage, probably for both self- and cross-insemination. Cyathocephalus truncatus has a cirrus similar to that of the monozoic, progenetic caryophyllidean, Archigetes sieboldi and well-developed prostate glands like those of the polyzoic pseudophyllidean, Diphyllobothrium latum. The ultrastructural aspects of the male and female reproductive system of C. truncatus are compared with those of other tapeworms.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and spermatozoon of Leptorhynchoides plagicephalus (Acanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala), a parasite of the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii (Osteichthyes, Acipenseriformes).

This paper describes the ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of Leptorhynchoides plagicephalus, an acanthocephalan parasite of the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii, a species which is under the threat of extinction. At the beginning, spermiogenesis in L. plagicephalus is characterized by the presence of a single centriole in the early spermatid. This centriole generates a flagellum with a 9+0 pattern. Another ultrastructural feature observed during the spermiogenesis of L. plagicephalus is the condensation of chromatin to form an "intranuclear wall". The mature spermatozoon of L. plagicephalus presents a reversed anatomy, as observed in other species of the Acanthocephala. The spermatozoon is divided into two parts: an axoneme and a nucleocytoplasmic derivative. The pattern of spermiogenesis and the ultrastructural organization of the spermatozoon of L. plagicephalus are compared with information available on other acanthocephalan species. The appearance of an "intranuclear wall" observed during the present study represents the first record within the Acanthocephala and is unknown from other animal taxa.

Acanthocephala↗

PubMed2003

The intestinal parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) interferes with the uptake and accumulation of lead (210Pb) in its fish host chub (Leuciscus cephalus).

Uninfected chub as well as fish experimentally infected with the acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis were exposed to (210)Pb(2+) for up to 38 days and the uptake and distribution of lead within different fish organs and the parasites was determined at various time points. Highest metal concentrations were detected in the acanthocephalans, followed by intestine, bile, liver, gill and muscle of the fish host. Infected chub had significantly lower (210)Pb levels in the gills on day 17 (P< or =0.01), in the bile on day 24 (P< or =0.05) and in the gills as well as in the intestine on day 38 compared with uninfected fish. A subsequent polynomial regression revealed that lead levels for the infected fish ranged below the levels determined for uninfected fish during most of the exposure period. This is the first proof that P. laevis reduces lead levels in the bile thereby diminishing or even impeding the hepatic intestinal cycling of lead, which may reduce the amount of metals available for the fish organs. This is especially important for ecotoxicological research. For example, organisms used as accumulation indicators may erroneously indicate low levels of pollution if they are infected with parasites which alter their pollutant uptake mechanisms. Additionally, the results gave further experimental evidence for acanthocephalans as accumulation indicators for metals.

Acanthocephala↗

PubMed2003

Activity levels and predator detection by amphipods infected with an acanthocephalan parasite, Pomphorhynchus laevis.

The acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller, 1776) uses freshwater amphipods as its intermediate host. In order to complete the life cycle, the infected amphipod must be consumed by a fish, where the acanthocephalan will mature and reproduce. Parasite transmission, and therefore fitness, could be enhanced if infected amphipods fail to detect or avoid predatory fish. We compared the activity levels of infected and non-infected amphipods, Echinogammarus stammeri (Karaman, 1931), in both the presence and absence of odours from its natural, definitive host, the fish Leuciscus cephalus (L.). Throughout the experiment, infected amphipods were more active than were non-infected individuals. The non-infected amphipods reduced their activity after the addition of fish odours, but the infected amphipods failed to show a significant decrease. The failure of infected amphipods to reduce activity levels in the presence of fish odour may reflect a parasite strategy to increase its chances of transmission by making its amphipod host more vulnerable to predation by fish.

Acanthocephala↗

PubMed2002

Description of Bucephalus anguillae n. sp. (Trematoda: Bucephalidae), a parasite of the eel Anguilla anguilla (Anguillidae) from a brackish water lagoon of the Adriatic Sea.

The digenetic trematode Bucephalus anguillae n. sp. is described from the intestine of eel, Anguilla anguilla L., originating from a brackish water fish farm on the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea. The new taxon is 1 of 12 Bucephalus species characterized by an anterior rhynchus surrounded by 7 tentacular appendages, each when fully protruded with 2 prongs. Scanning electron microscopy reveals, for the first time in a Bucephalus species, the crescent-shaped, unspined field located between the rhynchus and the dorsal tentacles. A comparison of B. anguillae n. sp. with 11 congeneric species revealed its remarkable similarity with B. polymorphus Baer, 1827; however, the new species has a larger cirrus sac, larger pharynx, vitelline gland fields not extending the level of pharynx, ovary located in the pharyngeal area rather than fairly posterior to pharynx, smaller testes, relatively wider rhynchus, and tegumental armature comprising slightly larger spines. Multivariate discriminant analyses confirmed a differentiation of B. anguillae from populations of B. polymorphus; the combination of 4 variables, namely cirrus sac length, pharynx width, cirrus sac width, and rhynchus width yielded a total separation of compared species.

Anguilla↗

PubMed2002

Identification of life cycle stages of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Cestoda: spathebothriidea) using molecular techniques.

Morphological identification of tapeworm species at larval stages (procercoids and cysticercoids) is often difficult because few diagnostic characters are available. In the present study, a molecular approach (sequencing of partial 18S rDNA gene) was used to evaluate the genetic similarity between adult specimens of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1871) (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea) found in fish, its definitive host, and procercoids of the same species recovered from amphipod, Echinogammarus stammeri (Karaman, 1931). Furthermore, cestode cysticercoids of uncertain species were found in the amphipod's hemocoel. The sequences obtained from adults and procercoids were identical, and even very similar to those of C. truncatus available in GenBank, whereas the sequences obtained from cysticercoids differed significantly from those of adults and procercoids, indicating that these larvae belong to another species; later it was demonstrated that they were cysticercoids of Microsomacanthus pachycephala (Linstow, 1972), a cestode of the Hymenolepididae (Cyclophyllidea). The results of this investigation show that the comparison of nucleotide sequence data may avoid misclassification of developmental stages of parasites, which use the same intermediate host.

Animals↗