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Fine structure and cytochemical analysis of the intestinal wall along the body of adult female of Litomosoides chagasfilhoi (Nematoda: Filarioidea)

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Abstract

Litomosoides chagasfilhoi is a filariid nematode parasite of the abdominal cavity of the wild rodent Akodon cursor (Winge, 1887), that has been described and used in Brazil as a new model for human filariasis. The fine structure of the intestine of this nematode was analyzed based on observations made by light and transmission electron microscopies of serial sections along the body. Cytochemical analysis was carried out to investigate the composition of the intestinal wall. This structure consisted of a basal lamina and an epithelium of variable thickness, composed of cells that have an irregular shape. The cytoplasm of intestinal cells contains few organelles: vacuoles, lysosomal bodies, spheroid bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, and many large lipid droplets. In the anterior portion of the intestine, the lysosomal bodies, spheroid bodies, and vacuoles presented positive reaction for acid phosphatase, and carbohydrates were detected in lysosomal bodies. The midbody and posterior regions presented less organelles and lipid droplets, and nuclei were more abundant. Residues of l-fucose were detected by Ulex europaeus lectin binding in the midbody sections. Basic proteins were associated to lipid droplets, in the posterior region. In the whole extension of the intestine, carbohydrates were detected on tight junctions. These results indicate that the metabolized material in the epithelium can contribute to the microfilariae development and also probably can be involved with the excretory/secretory mechanism of these nematodes.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Ms. Beatriz Ferreira Ribeiro, Márcia Adriana Dutra, and Giovana Alves de Moraes from the Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, CBB, UENF, and Izaias Aparecido Pimenta, from the Departamento de Biologia, IOC, FIOCRUZ, for technical assistance; to Dr Renato Augusto DaMatta and Dr João CA Almeida, for critical review of the manuscript; and to Ms. Maria de Fátima Leal Alencar for secretarial assistance.

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) grant 150.115/2003-2, Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, and Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), 28013-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    A. H. A. de Moraes Neto, G. S. P. Cunha, T. F. Ferreira & S. N. de Carvalho

  2. Núcleo de Biologia e Controle de Endo e Ectoparasitos de Interesse Médico e Veterinário, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    A. H. A. de Moraes Neto

  3. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Departamento de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    E. V. Guimarães

  4. Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, IBCCF, UFRJ, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    W. de Souza

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  1. A. H. A. de Moraes Neto
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  2. G. S. P. Cunha
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  3. T. F. Ferreira
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  4. S. N. de Carvalho
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  5. E. V. Guimarães
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  6. W. de Souza
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Correspondence to A. H. A. de Moraes Neto.

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de Moraes Neto, A.H.A., Cunha, G.S.P., Ferreira, T.F. et al. Fine structure and cytochemical analysis of the intestinal wall along the body of adult female of Litomosoides chagasfilhoi (Nematoda: Filarioidea). Parasitol Res 98, 525–533 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-0092-9

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