Ultrastructure of eggs of Paracapillaria (Crossicapillaria) philippinensis and evidence related to its life cycle

Abstract

The varied ultrastructure of the eggshell of Paracapillaria (Crossicapillaria) philippinensis, collected from a human sample, is reported from a scanning electron microscopy study. Two distinct egg shapes were identified: typical peanut-shaped and swollen peanut-shaped. Both thick and thin eggshells were detected. Thick eggshells are either fairly smooth or bear a beam-like network in relation to the pillars in their surface ultrastructure. Thin eggshells are transparent allowing visibility of the coiled larva within. Presence of the thin shell provides supportive evidence of autoinfection involved in the life cycle of this medically important parasite. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.