Dioctowittus denisoniae

 

Contents

 

Rev 06/18/2024

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Dioctowittus Menu   Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Cystoopsidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Enoplea
    Dorylaimia
        Trichinellida
            Trichinellina
Trichinelloidea

Cystoopsidae

Dioctowittus denisoniae

 

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Thread-like esophagus surrounded by stichocytes, intestine transformed into a trophosome, anterior position of the vulva, character of the eggs and site within the snake host conform with characteristtics of the genus Dioctowittus. Bain and Ghadirian (1967) showed that the esophageal masses correspond to a double row of stichocytes.

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  • Females:

    • Opisthodelphic, ovary single, apex near posterior end of worm.
    • Single uterus filled with eggs, extendimg length of worm, leading anteriorly into muscular ovejector.
    • Vulva just behind anterior extremity, flush with body surface.
    • Eggs thick-walled, barrel-shaped and markedly flattened. Tuft of fine filaments inserted into mucus plug at each pole, slightly shorter than eggs themselves
    • Eggs cotaining fully-formed larvae.

    Ref: Jones, 1987

     

    Dioctowittus denisoniae Fig. 1. Anterior end, male; Fig. 2. Anterior end, female, lateral, with extremely anterior vulva; Fig. 3. Posterior end, male, lateral; Fig. 4. Optical transverse section, male, tail, 0.3mm from posterior end; Fig. 5. Male tail, dorsal; Fig. 6. Posterior end, female; Fig. 7. Egg; Fig. 8. Transverse section, male, c.0.5 mm from ant. end; Fig. 9. Transverse section, male, near origin of trophosome; Fig. 10. Transverse section, male, l mm from tail.

    Key: g = testis; t = trophosome; s=stichocyte; v=vas deferens.

    Drawings from Jones, 1987


    Males:  

    • Two low ridges on ventral surface of tail, terminating posteriorly short distance from extremity, anteriorly merging into body wall about 2 mm from tail.
    • Monorchic, single testis rounded and reflexed, passing forward to level, or just past level, of commencement of intestine before turning posteriorly.
    • Valvular apparatus at origin of vas deferens; minute genital orifice on posteroventral aspect of tail.
    • Papillae, gubernaculum and spicules absent.

    ?So, how do sperm get into female?

     
       

    Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

     

     
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    Distribution:

     

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    Feeding:

    Parasites of vertebrates.

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    Biology and Ecology:

    Nematodes of the genus Dioctowittus are highly modified for an existence in the body tissues or body cavity of their hosts. They have a vestigial sensory apparatus and the transformation of the intestine into a trophosome (Bain and Ghadirian 1967).

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    Life Cycle:

     

     

    Ecophysiological Parameters:

    For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters

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    Ecosystem Functions and Services:

     

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    Management:

     

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    References:

    Bain, O. and Ghadirian, E, 1967. Description d'une nouvelle espece de Dioctowittus (Nematode) et note sur la position systematique du genre. Annales de Parasitologie, 42: 643-650.

    Chabaud, A.G. and Le Van Hoa. 1960. Adaptation a la vie tissulaire d'un Nematode Aphasmidien. Comptes Rendus Seances de I'Academie des Sciences, Paris, 251, (17) 1837-1839.

    Jones, H.I. 1978. Dioctowittus spp. Chabaud and Le Van Hoa 1960 (Nematoda: Adenophorea) from Australian snakes. J. Helminthology 2:141-145

     

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    Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
    Revised: June 18, 2024.