The most comprehensive work on cercarial types, distribution and morphology in southern Africa was published by Porter (1938). Fain (1953) studied the cercariae from snails in Lake Albert (on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda) and Vercammen-Grandjean (1960) from Lake Kivu (on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda). Later, Combes (1980) presented the ‘World atlas of cercariae’, whereafter King and Van As (1997, 2001) described the cercariae shed by Bulinus tropicus, Krauss 1848 in the Free State. Jansen van Rensburg (2001) described the cercariae from snail species in the Okavango Delta, Botswana and Nadasan and Appleton (2003) investigated the cercariae in the vicinity of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Surveys on cercarial sheddings in the Tshwane area, Gauteng Province and one locality in the North West Province revealed two freshwater snail species to shed three different types of strigea cercariae. Lifecycle studies on these parasites frequently failed, mainly because of their extremely high host specificity with regard to their first, second and definitive hosts. The main aim of this project was to gather morphological information on these cercarial types, which, in the future, may assist in establishing possible linkages with strigea metacercarial stages in local fish populations from these areas.

The cercariae were stained with Nile blue sulphate or neutral red vital stains and studied alive using a Nikon compound microscope (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). One or two stained cercariae were placed in a drop of water on a microscope slide, covered with a glass cover slip and moved once or twice over a Bunsen burner to slow down cercarial movement. Drawings were made by means of a drawing tube. In all cases, 20 specimens were measured, with all measurements given in micrometres (µm) and with minimum and maximum values indicated along with the mean value and standard deviation in parenthesis. Owing to the low infections in the snails, no other intra-molluscan stages were studied.

For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specimens were fixed overnight in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, washed in Millonig’s phosphate buffer (pH = 7.2) and dehydrated through a graded ethanol series for 30 s – 60 s in each concentration. Thereafter, they were critically point dried (Polaron, Watford, UK), mounted on aluminium stubs, sputter coated with gold (Emscope; Quorum Technologies, Ashford, UK) and examined using a Leica Stereoscan 420 SEM (Leica Electron Optics, UK) at the Electron Microscope Unit of the University of Limpopo (Medunsa campus).

The cercaria (Figure 1a; Figures 2a and 2b) consists of an elongated and cylindrical body, measuring 164 µm – 185 µm (180 µm ± 7 µm) long × 49 µm – 60 µm (52 µm ± 4 µm) wide and a tail stem ending in two caudal rami (Figure 1b). The tail stem is shorter than the length of the body, measuring 198 µm – 206 µm (201 µm ± 3 µm) × 24 µm – 29 µm (26 µm ± 2 µm), with the caudal rami shorter than the tail stem, at 169 µm – 174 µm (172 µm ± 2 µm) × 16 µm – 18 µm (17 µm ± 1 µm).

FIGURE 1: Light microscope projection drawings of three types of strigea cercariae shed by Lymnaea natalensis and Bulinus tropicus, (a) head and (b) forked-tail of strigea cercaria A, (c) head and (d) forked tail of strigea cercaria B and (e) head and (f) forked tail of strigea cercaria C.

FIGURE 2: Strigea cercaria A, depicted using light micrographs of (a) whole mount and (b) head of cercariae with penetration glands (Pg) posterior to acetabulum, as well as scanning electron micrographs of, (c) oral sucker (Os), (d) acetabulum (Ac), (e) joint between body and tail (*) and (f) sensory receptors with long cilia (Lcr) on the tail stem.

A small bipartite excretory bladder, 7 µm – 10 µm (8 µm ± 1 µm) × 7 µm – 11 µm (9 µm ± 3 µm) is situated at the posterior end of the body (Figure 1a). Two main collecting tubes arise from the bladder, extend anteriorly and divide into anterior and posterior collecting tubules anterior to the acetabulum. Fourteen pairs of flame cells were found in the body, of which six pairs are located in the anterior half and the remaining eight pairs are located in the posterior half of the body. The flame cell formula is: 2([2 + 2 + 2] + [1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2]) = 28. The excretory pores open sub-terminally on either side of the caudal rami (Figure 1b).

Posteriorly directed minute spines that are denser in the anterior part of the organism cover the body tegument (Figure 2c), whereas fewer and more widely separated spines cover the tail stem (Figure 2e), with sparse sensory receptors with long cilia on its surface (Figure 2f). Six hair-like structures (Figure 1b), three anteriorly and three posteriorly, were observed on each side of the tail stem. A series of caudal bodies were also observed in the tail stem (Figure 1b). The caudal rami are covered with spines that are visually fewer when compared to the spines found on the tail stem.

Strigea cercaria B (Figures 1c and 1d; Figures 3a and 3b) comprises a cylindrical body, 88 µm – 155 µm (109 µm ± 21 µm) × 45 µm – 60 µm (50 µm ± 4 µm) and a fork tail. The tail stem, 75 µm – 127 µm (105 µm ± 16 µm) × 28 µm – 36 µm (33 µm ± 3 µm) is shorter than the body length, with the caudal rami measuring 123 µm – 161 µm (149 µm ± 11 µm) × 10 µm – 21 µm (16 µm ± 3 µm). The oral sucker (Figure 3c), 16 µm – 40 µm (30 µm ± 7 µm) × 25 µm – 33 µm (30 µm ± 3 µm) is covered by fairly large and sharp backwardly pointing spines (Figures 3c and 3d). The oral sucker opens directly into a pharynx, 7 µm – 10 µm (9 µm ± 1 µm) × 7 µm – 12 µm (10 µm ± 2 µm), followed by a short oesophagus, 6 µm – 30 µm (13 µm ± 7 µm) × 3 µm – 6 µm (4 µm ± 1 µm) (Figure 1d).

FIGURE 3: Strigea cercaria B, depicted using light micrographs of (a) whole mount and (b) head of cercaria, as well as scanning electron micrographs of, (c) oral sucker (Os), (d) spines (Sp) around the oral sucker, (e) acetabulum (Ac) and (f) tail tegument (Tt).

Four small penetration glands (Figure 1d), 4 µm – 7 µm (6 µm ± 1 µm) in diameter, are situated at the terminal end of each intestinal caecum. A small bipartite excretory bladder, 3 µm – 9 µm (7 µm ± 2 µm) × 7 µm – 15 µm (10 µm ± 3 µm), is located at the posterior end of the body. Two main collecting tubes arise from the bladder, extend anteriorly and divide into anterior and posterior collecting tubules anterior to the acetabulum giving rise to capillaries that terminate in flame cells (Figure 1d). The flame cell formula is: 2([2 + 1] + [2 + 2]) = 14. The excretory pore opens sub-terminally on the lateral side of each caudal ramus (Figure 1c).

The body surface is covered with many posteriorly facing spines that are concentrated more at the anterior end of the body. These spines are large and concentrated around the oral sucker (Figure 3c), and become smaller towards the posterior. A row of large spines surrounds the acetabulum wall (Figure 3e). Four hair-like structures (Figure 1d) were observed: three on the anterior half and one posterior on both sides of the body. The tail stem (Figure 3f) is covered with only a few short spines that are randomly positioned. The caudal rami are covered with fewer posteriorly directed spines.

Both the tail stem and the caudal rami have hair-like structures, eight were found on both sides of the tail stem and two on the postero-lateral side of each caudal ramus (Figure 1c).

Strigea cercaria C is elongated with a large oval-shaped body, 151 µm – 184 µm (171 µm ± 10 µm) × 45 µm – 52 µm (50 µm ± 3 µm), and a fork tail that is almost twice as long as the body (Figures 1e and 1f; Figures 4a and 4b). The tail stem measures 413 µm – 508 µm (479 µm ± 31 µm) × 66 µm – 90 µm (72 µm ± 9 µm). The caudal rami, at 407 µm – 497 µm (477 µm ± 29 µm) × 30 µm – 60 µm (38 µm ± 8 µm), are as long as the tail stem and taper posteriorly into sharp-ending points (Figure 1f).

The body (Figure 1e; Figure 4b) displays a pear-shaped oral sucker, 48 µm – 64 µm (57 µm ± 5 µm) × 22 µm – 33 µm (28 µm ± 4 µm), that is longer than wide and very protrusible. Sensory receptors with short cilia dominate the area around the mouth opening (Figures 4d and 4e). Posteriorly directed spines (Figures 4d and 4e) are concentrated at the anterior end of the body, especially around the oral sucker, but are fewer in number at the posterior end of the body. Sensory receptors with long cilia were observed dorsally on the body surface (Figure 4f).

FIGURE 4: Strigea cercaria C, depicted using light micrographs of (a) whole mount, (b) head of cercaria and (c) caudal bodies (Cb) in the tail stem, as well as scanning electron micrographs of, (d) oral sucker (Os), (e) sensory receptors with short cilia (Scr) surrounding the oral sucker and (f) sensory receptors with long cilia (Lcr) anteroventrally on the body.

An acetabulum, 12 µm – 39 µm (33 µm ± 8 µm) × 30 µm – 39 µm (34 µm ± 3 µm), with spines on the luminal wall is situated 37 µm – 40 µm (39 µm ± 1 µm) posterior to the elongated oral sucker. Three finely granular penetration glands occur in tandem on either side of the body, just posterior to the acetabulum. The first pair measures, 9 µm – 15 µm (13 µm ± 2 µm) × 10 µm – 13 µm (11 µm ± 1 µm), the second pair, 7 µm – 15 µm (13 µm ± 2 µm) × 10 µm – 13 µm (11 µm ± 1 µm) and the third pair, 10 µm – 16 µm (14 µm ± 2 µm) × 10 µm – 13 µm (12 µm ± 1 µm).

The excretory system consists of an oval-shaped bladder, 7 µm – 10 µm (8 µm ± 1 µm) × 6 µm – 10 µm (8.0 µm ± 1.9 µm) from where the main excretory ducts on each side of the bladder run anteriorly towards the middle of the body. These ducts then divide at the level of the acetabulum into anterior and posterior collecting tubules which branch into smaller capillaries bearing flame cells. The flame cell formula is as follows: 2 (3 + 3) = 12. Two hair-like structures were observed bilaterally on the anterior end and seven pairs on the posterior half of the tail stem (Figure 1f). Caudal bodies in the tail stem are irregular in size and shape, and vary in number (Figure 1f; Figure 4c).

Porter (1938) described three fork-tailed cercariae shed by L. natalensis, namely Cercaria scheerpoortia and Cercaria magaliesia both from Hartebeestpoort Dam (North West Province) and Cercaria maritzburgensis from Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal Province). Fain (1953) described nine strigea cercariae, which included one secreted by L. natalensis. Furthermore, Vercammen-Grandjean (1960) described six strigea cercariae which included five secreted by Biomphalaria species and one by L. natalensis from Lake Kivu. More recently, King and Van As (2001) described a fork-tailed cercaria secreted by B. tropicus from the Free State Province, whilst Jansen van Rensburg (2001) described a fork-tailed cercaria from L. natalensis from the Okavango Delta, Botswana and Nadasan and Appleton (2003) described a pharyngeal longifurcate distome cercaria shed by B. tropicus from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The present study adds to the descriptions of strigeid cercariae by the abovementioned authors from various regions in Africa.

With its unique grouping of penetration glands, strigea cercaria A is closely related to the strigea cercaria described by Fain (1953) but has penetration glands that are located at the post-acetabular region, whereas the one previously described has penetration glands situated at the pre-acetabular region. Other differences were size and shape of the body, as well as the flame cell formula.

With its cluster penetration glands, strigea cercaria B is similar to the strigea cercaria described by King and Van As (2001) secreted by B. tropicus in the Free State Province. The present cercaria is, however, smaller and has fewer penetration glands and flame cells. Strigea cercaria B has seven pairs of flame cells, three pairs anteriorly and four pairs posteriorly to the acetabulum; whereas, the one described by King and Van As (2001) has two pairs anteriorly and two pairs posterior to the acetabulum. Although the internal morphology of these two cercariae is similar, SEM revealed external differences; for example, the surface spines and features of the acetabulum. The cercariae described by Porter (1938) and Jansen van Rensburg (2001) were all shed by L. natalensis. All of the abovementioned cercariae differ from the description of the present cercaria based on the position and shape of the penetration glands, body size and caudal bodies in the tail. Interestingly, strigea cercaria B was collected only once from L. natalensis from Boekenhoutskloof farm Dam. It is too soon to comment whether or not this was an accidental infection or whether the parasite is adapting to a new first intermediate host.

With regard to the position and size of the penetration glands, strigea cercaria C is clearly different in most morphological aspects to that described by King and Van As (2001) and Jansen van Rensburg (2001). This cercaria, however, resembles most of the characteristic features of C. scheerpoortia, as described by Porter (1938), especially the three pairs of penetration glands on each side of the body posterior to the acetabulum. Strigea cercaria C has three pairs of flame cells anteriorly and three pairs posteriorly, unlike C. scheerpoortia, which has three pairs of flame cells occurring anteriorly, two pairs occurring posteriorly and one pair occurring in the tail stem. The cercaria described here also has hair-like structures found on either side of the body and the tail, which differs from the strigea cercaria described by Porter (1938). Other differences are the size of the intestinal caeca, tail stem morphology and pharynx size and shape.

Four types of metacercariae were obtained from local freshwater fish from the same localities. Two types of strigea metacercariae were found to encyst in the muscle tissue of Tilapia sparrmanii, Smith 1840 and Pseudocrenilabrus philander, Weber 1897, one was found in the cranial cavity of Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822 and a fourth in the vitreous chamber of T. sparrmanii.

According to Olsen (1974) members of the superfamily Strigeoidea belong to the families Diplostomatidae and Strigeidae, which both include intestinal parasites of fish-eating and frog-eating birds and mammals. Gibson, Jones and Bray (2001) mentioned that members of the Strigeidae are mainly specific to birds but are also found in reptiles. Only one genus, Duboisiella Baer, 1938 occurs in mammals. The lifecycles of these strigea cercariae are presently still unknown, but they may develop into adults in either of the families mentioned above. With these parasites infecting a wide spectrum of freshwater fish, it is important to gather much more information on their larval stages first in order to attempt lifecycle studies in the future.

The three Strigea cercariae described in the present study were unrelated to any previous investigations described in the text. This investigation thus adds important findings with regard to morphological characterisation of these parasites. Our prelimenary studies have shown that many freshwater fish species are infected with various strigea metacercariae which were collected from the same waterbodies that are presently utilised by the neighbouring communities. It is therefore imperative to trace the origin of these cysts in local fish species that may serve as the main source of protein.

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