Surface Ultrastructures of Stictodora fuscatum (Trematoda: Heterophyidae)

Present study was performed to observe the surface ultrastructures of Stictadora furcatum (Trematoda: Heterophyidae). Adult worms were recovered from the cat experimentally infected with metacercariae, and were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The body was leaf-like and ventrally concave. The oral sucker armed with prominent tegumental spines on the inner surface, and it's lips were obscure. Sensory papillae (type I) in single or grouped forms symmetrically arranged around the oral sucker. The ventrogenital opening retained protruding gonotyl spines and sperms discharged from the genital pore . The body surface was covered with scale-like multipointed tegumental spines. The density and digitated point of spines were gradually decreased toward the posterior end of the body. The digitated points of spines on the anterior portion were 9-12, on the middle were 7-8 and 5-6, and on the posterior were 2-3 and peg-like. Although the tegumental ultrastructure of S. fuscatum was generally similar to those of other heterophyid flukes , the oral sucker with tegumental spines on the inner surface and without obvious lips, and the ventrogenital opening with protruding gonotyl spines were suggested to be the characteristic features.