Ultrastructure of the tegument of the metacercaria of Timoniella imbutiforme

Abstract

The spinous body tegument of the metacercaria of Timoniella imbutiforme (Molin, 1859) is described in detail and found to comprise an outer tegumental syncytium connected to subjacently situated subtegumentary ‘cells’. There are four types of secretory bodies in the outer syncytial layer as well as serrated overlapping spines and mitochondria. The subtegumentary ‘cells’ are characterized by the presence of four secretory body types as well as giant bodies which may be involved in the elaboration of the secretory bodies or spine material. The normal configuration of the somatic muscles of T. imbutiforme show that the muscular machinery necessary for activity once the larval stage becomes excysted is already in place. The sensory endings are found to be of the uniciliate type occurring in groups of up to eight in raised domes distributed over the body. Secretory gland cells are numerous and possess long ducts connected to the basal lamina of the outer syncytial layer via septate desmosomes.