[Ultrastructural changes in Diphyllobothrium latum from a man treated with paromomycin sulfate]

The effect of paromomycin sulfate on Diphyllobothrium latum in vivo in man was examined morphologically with a scanning and a transmission electron microscope. The worm used for this study was expelled from a man by treatment with paromomycin sulfate at 1 dose of 50 mg/kg. The surface of the neck region suffered great damage. The effect of paromomycin sulfate resulted in the progressive breakup of the microtriches and the tegument. Even the basal lamina was lost in some parts. As a result, the muscle layers were exposed directly to the air. In the immature proglottid, the basal lamina remained as an outermost surface, although paromomycin sulfate caused a great loss of the tegument. The mature proglottid was lacking microtriches in some parts. However, most of the tegument was covered with microtriches. The gravid proglottid remained without any loss of microtriches.