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The neuro-muscular system in fresh-water furcocercaria from Belarus. I Schistosomatidae

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Abstract

The neuro-muscular system (NMS) in cercariae of the family Schistosomatidae from Belarus was studied with immunocytochemical methods and confocal scanning laser microscopy. The specimens of Bilharziella polonica were compared with Trichobilharzia szidati and Trichobilharzia franki. The patterns of F-actin in the musculature, 5-HT-immunoreactive (IR), FMRFamide-IR neuronal elements and α-tubulin-IR in sensory receptors and nerves were investigated. No indications of structural differences in the musculature, the 5-HT-IR, FMRF-IR neuronal elements and the general distribution of sensory receptors were noticed between cercariae of Trichobilharzia spp. The number of 5-HT-IR neurons in the cercarial bodies is 16. In cercaria B. polonica, the tail musculature is weaker than in Trichobilharzia spp. A detailed schematic picture of the NMS in the tail of Trichobilharzia spp. cercaria is given. The function of NMS elements in the tail is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff and the students of the Biological Station of Belarus State University for the friendly atmosphere and help. The study was supported by RFBR grants 09-04-01611a and 09-04-00243-a, grant SSch-2107.2008.4, Molecular and cell biology program RAS, FCP SC P-1043, grant of the President of Russian Federation MК-1093.2011.4, The Research Institute of the Foundation of the Åbo Akademi University, the Rector of Åbo Akademi University and the Academy of Finland. The authors want to thank Mr. Esa Nummelin and Mr. Jari Korhonen for the technical assistance and the reviewer for fruitful criticism of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Parasitology of A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia

    Oleg O. Tolstenkov & Nadezhda B. Terenina

  2. Laboratory of Parasitology, State Scientific and Production Amalgamation “The Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources”, 27 Akademicheskaya Street, Minsk, 220072, Republic of Belarus

    Ludmila N. Akimova

  3. Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov str., 34/5, Moscow, 119334, Russia

    Galina G. Chrisanfova

  4. Department of Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Åbo, Finland

    Margaretha K. S. Gustafsson

Authors
  1. Oleg O. Tolstenkov
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  2. Ludmila N. Akimova
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  3. Galina G. Chrisanfova
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  4. Nadezhda B. Terenina
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  5. Margaretha K. S. Gustafsson
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Correspondence to Margaretha K. S. Gustafsson.

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Tolstenkov, O.O., Akimova, L.N., Chrisanfova, G.G. et al. The neuro-muscular system in fresh-water furcocercaria from Belarus. I Schistosomatidae. Parasitol Res 110, 185–193 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2468-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2468-3

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