Figure 4

Morphology of Pelodera strongyloides from light microscopy. A) Pelodera strongyloides larva as seen in a skin scraping. The rhabditiform oesophagus (a, see also Fig. 4C) is the most important morphological feature to differentiate P. strongyloides larvae from other nematode larvae. To improve contrast in specimen, a microscope equipped with differential interference contrast (DIC) was used. Scale bar = 200 μm. B) The posterior end of female Pelodera strongyloides. The tail possesses a clear spine-like extension (b); a = anus. To improve contrast in specimen, a microscope equipped with differential interference contrast (DIC) was used. Scale bar = 50 μm. C) The anterior end of an adult Pelodera strongyloides. The light micrograph reveals a deep buccal capsule (a) and a rhabditiform oesophagus, consisting of an elongated corpus (b), followed by a distinct swelling midway through the oesophagus and the narrow isthmus (c), ending aborally with a clearly defined valvulated bulb (d). To improve contrast in specimen, a microscope equipped with differential interference contrast (DIC) was used. Scale bar = 100 μm. D) The posterior end of a male Pelodera strongyloides. The male has an open well-defined copulatory bursa with ten pairs of elongated papillae. Two pairs are located precloacally (a), and the remaining eight pairs posterior to the cloaca. The anterior group of postcloacal papillae consists of five papillae (b), and the posterior group (c) three papillae. Spicules (s) form Y-shaped copulatory structure. Scale bar = 20 μm.