Abstract:
Dacylogyrus extensus is a highly pathogenic monogenea among cyprinid
fish than Dactylogyrus vastator. Discrimination of the related parasite
always carried out through light microscopy and electronmicroscopy.
Therefore the release of sclerites free from attached musculature is
vital.
Using sonication technique and subsequent scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) the functional morphology of the attachment and
copulatory sclerites of Dactylogyrus extensus extracted from Cyprinus
carpio L. was studied. Ultrasonication technique to release the hamuli
and marginals has also allowed for the description of several previously
unrecorded structures. These included two specialized sites of attachment
for the auxillary sclerite on the hamulus and the form of copulatory organ
and marginal hook. The hamuli of immature dactylogyrid worms can
be discriminated from those of adult worms on the basis of the extent of
development of the auxillary sclerite attachment of the hamulus.
