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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32308
Title: SUBLATERAL HYPODERMAL CHORDS IN HAEMONCHUS (NEMATODA: TRICHOSTRONGYLOIDEA):POTENTIAL AS A SYSTEMATIC CHARACTER

Author
item LICHTENFELS J RA - 1265-15-00
item WERGIN WILLIAN P - 1270-40-00

Submitted to: Southeast Society of Parasitologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sublateral hypodermal chords (SHC), that may be useful for identifying the subfamily Haemonchinae are described using light and transmission electron microscopy. This new systematic character will be used in current efforts to develop a phylogenetic classification of nematodes of the family Trichostrongylidae and to distinguish members of the subfamily Haemonchinae. In Haemonchus spp. four large SHC are located one muscle cell away from the lateral chords from the level of the middle of the esophagus to midbody. The SHC are largest in midbody and merge with the lateral chords at about 65% of the body length from the anterior end. With the aid of transmission electron microscopy, a band of nerve tissue was located parallel and medial to the SHC. SHC, which were found in all species of Haemonchus and in Mecistocirrus digitatus, are so large they can be identified in thick freehand midbody sections cut with a cataract knife. Because SHC have not been described in other Trichostrongylidae, their presence in members of the Haemonchinae may have value as a systematic character.