SEM and LM Observations on Parapharyngodon micipsae (Nematoda,Pharyngodonidae) from Senegal

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) techniques were used to study the morphology and anatomy of the reptile parasitic nematode Parapharyngodon micipsae (Seurat, 1917). It was obtained from West African species of gecko, Tarentola parvicarinata Joger (Gekkonidae), collected in the Niokolo Koba National Park, East Senegal. P. micipsae was examined and micrographed by a scanning electron microscope for the first time. Special attention was paid to morphological aspects of males and females such as cephalic structures, number and distribution of caudal papillae, cloacal outgrowths morphology, egg shape. Cuticular patterns were analyzed too. The nematode specimens were fixed and preserved in 96% ethyl alcohol and cleared in glycerine-water solution for better examination. They were examined under a light microscope equipped with differential interference contrast, digital image analysis system. Drawings were made with aid of a drawing attachment. Prior to SEM study, parasites were dehydrated through ethanol series, dried in a critical point drying apparatus using liquid CO2, mounted on aluminium stubs with double sided adhesive disc, coated with gold in a sputter coating unit and examined with SEM operating at 15 kV. Careful examination using methods of light and scanning electron microscopy allowed us to uncover a number of morphological characters to which little attention has been paid by former researchers. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Grant Agency of AS CR, grant No. IAA6093404; by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports under the contract MSM 0021622416 and by FEI Czech Republic s.r.o.