Notes on the occurrence of tubercular spines in Schistosoma margrebowiei and Schistosoma mattheei

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopical (SEM) studies on tegument of the bovid schistosomes, Schistosoma margrebowiei and Schistosoma mattheei have yielded conflicting results; certain authors observed the tubercles on the tegument of these species to be spined, while others reported that they are spineless. The present study indicates that the protrusion of tubercular spines is subject to phenotypic plasticity regulated by external factors such as the identiy of the host species and whether or not the schistosome is paired.