Ultrastructure of Trypanozoon-like Epimastigote in the Midgut of Cephalopina titillator (Diptera: Oestridae) 2nd Stage Larvae

Abstract

Background: Cephalopina titillator is a common parasite affecting camelids and causing nasopharyngeal myiasis. The fine structure of the epimastigote stage obtained from the midgut of Cephalopina titillator 2nd stage larvae was investigated. Methods: The larvae were obtained from the nasal passage of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) infected camels. Result: The main significant organelles of T. evansi were reported in the epimastigote. However, the kinetoplast was rarely observed. Also, the activity of the mitochondria was high while the volume of the glycosomes varies oppositely. Thick-walled triangular vacuole was reported near the nucleus of the epimastigote. This vacuole could represent degenerated flagellar pocket of the dying epimastigote. It was concluded that the trypomastigote stage of T. evansi reached the midgut of C. titillator through the attachment of the larvae to the nasal mucous membrane where it changed into the epimastigote stage which degenerate gradually.