We report zoonotic Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Rudolphi, 1819) Faust, Campbell and Kellogg, 1929 (Diphyllobothriidae), from its natural ecosystem in Europe from Martes martes in Ukraine. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the presence of mineral concretions in the scolex area of S. erinaceieuropaei. The combination of SEM and metal analysis using a dispersive X-ray technique to study the body surface of the plerocercoid and calcareous body–like structures has never been performed before in cestodes. Gallium ion sectioning and metal analysis were performed to study mineral concretions in cestodes for the first time. The results revealed moderate levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the scolex and tegument of plerocercoids. Calcareous body–like structures included high levels of calcium and moderate levels of magnesium on their surface.
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15 June 2020
Morphological Features and Structural Analysis of Plerocercoids of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from European Pine Marten, Martes martes (Mammalia: Mustelidae) in Ukraine
Nataliya Yu. Rubtsova,
Richard A. Heckmann
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Comparative Parasitology
Vol. 87 • No. 1
January 2020
Vol. 87 • No. 1
January 2020
calcareous bodies
EDXA
ion sectioning
Martes martes
mineral concretions
SEM
sparganosis