The integumental surfaces of critical point dried adult Schistosoma japonicum were studied by scanning electron microscopy. There are no bosses or spines on the dorsal surface of the male, which is ridged and presents a spongy appearance. Many spines cover the inner surface of the oral sucker and extend to the pharyngeal opening. The oral sucker shows a rim with spines of variable size and sharpness inward and outward from the rim. The ventral sucker possesses many spines which are smaller than in the oral sucker. The lining of the gynecophoric canal is roughened by minute spines. The integument of the female is ridged and pitted and possesses fewer spines than in the oral sucker, the ventral sucker, and the gynecophoric canal of the male. Anterior to the acetabulum, the integumental surfaces are devoid of spines. However, in the other areas, spines are equally distributed except for the vicinity of the excretory pore.
Through a scanning electron microscope the eggs of Schistosoma japonicum were observed to have microvili-like chitinous projections densely distributed and entangled on the surface, each more than 3 mu in length and 0.05 to 0.08 mu in diameter. The microspines of eggs of S. mansoni and S. haematobium were found to be thicker, shorter, and less widespread than were those of S. japonicum eggs, and not entangled. It is noteworthy that such small projections on the surface of schistosome eggs remain erect in the critical point drying procedure.
The surfaces of Schistosoma japonicum miracidia and cercariae were examined with the scanning electron microscope, and argentophilic papillae of S. japonicum cercariae, presumed to be sensory, with both the scanning electron microscope and the light microscope. Miracidia are covered with cilia, and the apical papilla is covered with cytoplasmic folds that form an anastomosing network. There is an excretory pore on the posterior one-third of the body. The tegument of S. japonicum cercariae is covered with spines that point in a posterior direction. The tail has a more irregular surface than the body, with fewer spines. The openings of the penetration gland ducts on a disclike area with netlike ridges at the anterior tip of the head organ are linearly arranged in 2 lateral crescents each containing 7 separate apertures. The basic number of the body papillae of S. japonicum (excluding those at the anterior end) is 56: 18 ventral, 4 acetabular, 18 dorsal, and 16 lateral (8 on each side). The number of papillae at the anterior tip is 14 (7 on each side). There are 9 papillae on the ventral side of the tail, and 10 on the dorsal and lateral sides.
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