Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the pseudophyllidean cestode Eubothrium crassum (Bloch, 1779)

Abstract.

The fine structure of the mature spermatozoon of the pseudophyllidean tapeworm Eubothrium crassum, a parasite of salmonid fishes, has been studied by transmission electron microscopy for the first time. The mature spermatozoon of E. crassum is filiform and tapered at both extremities. It contains two axonemes of unequal length showing the 9+"1" pattern of Trepaxonemata. The anterior extremity exhibits a crested body 50–100 nm thick. It spirals around the outside of the anterior region of the spermatozoon. The nucleus is electron-dense, exhibiting a fibrous appearance in its middle (the broadest) region. The cortical microtubules are of two types and are situated parallel to the spermatozoon axis. The cytoplasm is slightly electron-dense and contains numerous electron-dense granules in region II of the spermatozoon. A ring of electron-dense, centred microtubules surrounds the axoneme, together with the underlying ring of moderately electron-dense, subjacent submicrotubular material in region V. The anterior and posterior extremities of the spermatozoon lack cortical microtubules and contain a single axoneme. Our results reveal several peculiarities, in which the spermatozoon of E. crassum differs from those of other pseudophyllidean cestodes.