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Title: DEVELOPMENT AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CAT FLEA EGGSHELL

Author
item MARCHIONDO, A - RHONE MERIEUX INC
item Meola, Shirlee
item PALMA, K - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item MEOLA, R - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item SLUSSER, J - EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL

Submitted to: American Society of Parasitology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The female cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, has a large reproductive potential, producing 2,000 eggs during her lifetime. Thus, research was initiated to determine the structure of the egg in order to develop more effective ovicides targeting this species of insect. During development of the egg, cells that form a covering around the egg produce the vitelline membrane and the chorion (egg shell). Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the chorion consists of 3 distinct layers. The outer layer consists of a particulate substance averaging 762 nm in thickness, containing an electron-lucent, granular matrix embedded with electron-dense spheres (29-177 nm in diameter) that project above the particulate layer. The middle layer consists of an electron-dense granular layer 400 nm (range 234-493) in depth. The innermost layer measuring 1098 nm (range 1,033 - 1,110) contains terminal projections (struts) attached to a thin (67 nm) basal layer. This innermost layer constitutes the chorionic meshwork known as the palisades that forms an airfilled cavity and which is connected to the atmosphere surrounding the egg by lateral and anterior aeropyles. This relatively thin chorion is hydrophilic and thus readily susceptible to desiccation and aqueous formulated ovicides.