DIGENETIC TREMATODE

EXTERNAL ANATOMY

1. Body

1.1. Flattened dorsoventrally

1.2. Shape is variable

1.2.1. Some are long and narrow (Schistosomes)

1.2.2. Some leaf-like (Fasciola)

1.2.3. Others have thick fleshy bodies (amphistomes).

2. Body covering

2.1. This is correctly called the tegument

2.2. Serves as absorptive membrane

2.3. Smooth or spiny

3. Organs of Attachment

3.1. Oral sucker

3.1.1. Located at the anterior end of the body

 3.2. ventral sucker

3.2.1. Refers to also as acetabulum

3.3. It is usually at the anterior third of the ventral surface, but the position varies and in some
forms the ventral sucker may be missing.

INTERNAL BODY SYSTEMS

1. Digestive System

1.1. Mouth

1.1.1. The opening of the digestive system

1.1.2. It is surrounded by the oral sucker

1.2. pharynx

1.3. eosophagus

1.4. intestine divides into two blind ceca

2. Excretory System:

2.1. Bladder

2.1.1. Sac-like and has various shapes. It usually opens at the posterior end of the body.

2.2. Central collecting branched tubes

2.3. Flames cells

2.3.1. Excretory cell collecting from its surroundings the waste products to

be excreted. They are ciliated which propel products to bladder

2.3.2. The number of flame cells and the arrangement of their ducts is a

diagnostic characteristic.

4. Nervous System:

4.1. Circumesophageal ring of fibers

4.2. Paired of ganglia

4.3. 3 pairs of nerves which run from ganglia

4.4. Sense organs (`eye-spots') in larvae

5. Reproductive System

5.1. With the exemption of Schistosomatidae & Dioymozoidae the digenetic trematodes are
hermaphrodite

5.2. Male Reproductive Organs

5.2.1. Testes (2)

5.2.1.1. Shapes

5.2.1.1.1. Spherical

5.2.1.1.2. Oval

5.2.1.1.3. Branched or divided into smaller

bodies

5.2.1.2. Texture

5.2.1.2.1. Lobed or lobulated

5.2.1.2.2. Smooth

5.2.1.3. Position with reference to ovary

5.2.1.3.1. Anterior

5.2.1.3.2. Posterior

5.2.1.4. Arrangement in the parenchyma

5.2.1.4.1. Horizontal

5.2.1.4.2. Oblique

5.2.1.4.3. Tandem
 5.2.2. Vas efferentia

5.2.2.1. Unite to form vas deferens

5.2.3. Vas deferens

5.2.3.1. Widens distally to form a vesiculum seminalis

5.2.4. Seminal vesicle

5.2.5. Prostrate gland

5.2.5.1. Surrounds seminal vesicle

5.2.6. Cirrus

5.2.6.1. Protrusible portion of seminal vesicle

5.3. Female Reproductive Organs

5.3.1. Ovary (1)

5.3.1.1. Shapes

5.3.1.1.1. Spherical

5.3.1.1.2. Oval

5.3.1.1.3. Branched or divided into smaller

bodies

5.3.1.2. Texture

5.3.1.2.1. Lobed or lobulated

5.3.1.2.2. Smooth
5.3.2. Oviduct

5.3.2.1. Bears a receptaculum seminis & a narrow canal opening on the

dorsal surface of the body, the Laurel’s canal

5.3.3. Laurel’s canal

5.3.4. Vitelline glands

5.3.4.1. 1 pair

5.3.4.2. Consisting of a number of follicles situated laterally in the body

5.3.5. Ootype

5.3.5.1.In which the eggs are formed

5.3.5.2.It surrounded by Mehlis’s gland (shell gladn0

5.3.6. Uterus

5.3.6.1.Opens in the genital pore

5.3.6.2. It has a muscular portion (metraterm) on its distal portion in

some species

5.3.6.3.Fertilization takes place

6. Life Cycle

6.1. Egg

6.1.1. Passed in the feces of host

6.1.2. Hatches under suitable condition of moisture, warmth & light

6.2. Larvae ( 5)

6.2.1. Miracidium

6.1.1.1.Triangular, ciliated, with eyespot, does not feed;

6.2.2. Sporocyst

6.1.2.1.Undifferentiated mass of cell

6.1.2.2. Within sporocyst the germinal cells multiple & produce either
daughter sporocyst or redia

6.2.3. Redia

6.1.3.1. Daughter redia may occur

6.2.4. Daughter redia

6.2.5. Cercariae

6.1.5.1.Produced by sporocyst or redia

6.1.5.2. Mesocercariae (may occasionally occur), prolonged cercarial

stage (e.g. in Alaria spp.)

6.3. Metacercaria

6.4. Adult

6.4.1. Daughter sporocyst & rediae may also occur