Equine Cyathostomin L3 Larvae

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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micro_pix
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Equine Cyathostomin L3 Larvae

Post by micro_pix »

These are L3 larvae (infective stage) of the equine cyathostomin (gut parasite), often referred to as Small Redworm. - the most prevalent parasite of adult horses.

Unlike free-living nematodes these parasitic larvae develop a sheath at the L3 stage which protects them from desiccation before they are ingested and enables them to get to the preferred section of the herbivore's gut.

There are 42 known species of cyathostomin that are found in horses and they are very difficult to identify to species level but the number and arrangement of the gut sections in the L3 stage larvae can be used to narrow the choice down. On the second image I've "enhanced" the gut sections to show the arrangement.

These are a "Type A" cyathostomin species, they are around 0.8mm long excluding the tail. The larvae were extracted using the Baermann technique.

Dave



Image

Gut sections enhanced
Image

Saul
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Post by Saul »

Impressive

Sumguy01
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Post by Sumguy01 »

:smt041 Very nice.
Thanks for sharing.

Jacek
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Post by Jacek »

Very nice

micro_pix
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Post by micro_pix »

Here's a picture that shows the whole thing, it was difficult to get as it was moving so stacking wasn't an option.

Image

WalterD
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Post by WalterD »

Very interesting series, Dave; beautiful details and well captured/identified.

Olympusman
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Worms

Post by Olympusman »

Beauty!

Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

micro_pix
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Post by micro_pix »

Thanks for the kind comments.

Dave

blepharopsis
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Post by blepharopsis »

They can infect me anytime... Beautiful worms, awesome images! Is that a long undulating fin on their backs??

micro_pix
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Post by micro_pix »

blepharopsis wrote:They can infect me anytime... Beautiful worms, awesome images! Is that a long undulating fin on their backs??

Thanks!

The marked concertina effect is actually the outer sheath folding on the inside of the bends, you’ll notice it is smooth on the outside. I assume that this happens because it’s not elastic. When straight there is usually a little concertina on both sides. When they are dead they become completely straight.

Dave

grgh
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Post by grgh »

blepharopsis wrote:They can infect me anytime... Beautiful worms, awesome images! Is that a long undulating fin on their backs??
take it from an old country fella, "you would not like these"
used to do astronomy.
and photography.
Zeiss Universal Phase contrast.
Zeiss PMII
B&L stereo zoom.

KurtM
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Post by KurtM »

Impressive pix, and excellent info, thanks! Are you a vet, or doing this for a vet, per chance? Be interesting to know what drove you to making such fine portraits of these wee villains (another old country boy here).
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

micro_pix
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Post by micro_pix »

KurtM wrote:Impressive pix, and excellent info, thanks! Are you a vet, or doing this for a vet, per chance?
Hi Kurt,

The microscopy/photography is just a hobby.
Dave

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