Developmental surface ultrastructure of Macroorchis spinulosus in albino rats

Developmental surface ultrastructure of Macroorchis spinulosus was studied by scanning electron microscopy. One-day-old juvenile fluke was leaf-shaped and bent ventrally. Body surface was covered densely with peg-like spines and with cobblestone-like cytoplasmic processes. Ciliated sensory papillae were concentrated around oral sucker. Several unciliated sensory papillae occurred equidistantly on oral sucker and acetabulum. The ciliated papillae appeared in two longitudinal lines symmetric bilaterally on dorsal surface. On adult flukes, tegumantal spines became wider in middle of the body surface. The cytoplasmic processes differentiated into more fine velvety form. It is likely that the differentiated fine cytoplasmic processes are an increased absorptive surface to adult M. spinulosus. It is suggested that single pointed tegumental spines on anterior half of the body may be supportive for this fluke to migration.