Scanning electron microscopy of Bunostomum phlebotomum (Railliet, 1900)

Live specimens of Bunostomum phlebotomum were collected from the small intestine of a calf and processed for scanning electron microscopy using standard methods. This paper describes the surface morphology of adult worms. All these hookworms showed a dorsally bent anterior end with its buccal capsule, which opens antero-dorsally with a pair of chitinous cutting plates on the ventral margin. Prominent cervical papillae and a well developed male bursa with a dorsal and 2 lateral lobes, were observed. The female tail is slender and pointed with the anal opening close to the tip. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate morphological differences from other hookworms and to obtain more detail of the male bursa and female tail.