Ultrastructural aspects of early immune damage to Taenia crassiceps metacestodes

Siebert, A. E. Jr., Good A. H. and Simmons J. E. 1978. Ultrastructural aspects of early immune damage to Taenia crassiceps metacestodes. International Journal for Parasitology 8: 45–53. Changes in the ultrastructure of the tegument and subtegumental cells of intraperitoneally implanted Taenia crassiceps metacestodes were studied by transmission electron microscopy over a 4-week period. Death of metacestodes without involvement of host inflammatory cells is indicated initially by vacuolization of the larval tegument followed by loss of the tegument and subsequent death of the larvae. Changes in the tegument involve loss of the glycocalyx, reduction in the numbers of mitochondria and microtriches present, and loss of secretory capacity. Subtegumental cells show an accumulation of secretory vacuoles and marked disruption of nuclear morphology. Tegument damage is attributed to a complement-mediated lysis of the outer tegument membrane and death of the larvae probably results from loss of tegument function.