Order Ancanthocephala Flashcards
1
Q
What are the general features of the Phylum Acanthocephala?
A
Known as thorny headed worms Contain a proboscis (hooks), neck and trunk White, flattened with wrinkles Dioecious No digestive tract Within fish, birds and mammals
2
Q
What is the main features of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus?
A
Host - pigs Small intestine Large worm Flattened and transversely wrinkled Proboscis contains hooks Causes large nodules at the site of attachement onto the wall of SI Embryonated eggs IH = beetles (dung, water) Eggs shed in environment, IH ingest eggs, DH ingest infected IH.
3
Q
What are the other species of Acanthocephala?
A
Oncicola pomatostomi - dogs and cats, SI, DH are infected after ingestion of PH (birds)
Oncicola canis - SI of dogs and cats
Polymorphus boschadis –> Water birds (swan, duck, etc), within SI, IH = freshwater shrimp
4
Q
What species of Acanthocephala infects pigs?
A
Macracanthorynchus hirudinaceus
5
Q
What is the structure called that contains a large number of hooks on it in the head region?
A
Proboscis
