›› 1985, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (2): 122-124.

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SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY ON THE TROPHOZOITE OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA

  

  • Received:2017-01-12 Revised:2017-01-12 Online:1985-05-31 Published:2017-01-12

Abstract: The trophozoites of Giardia lamblia in mucosal scrapings and intestinal mucus obtained from the small intestine of experimentally infected rabbit were isolated, further purged from contaminating intestinal debris by alternating temperature cycles, and examined with scanning electron microscope.Trophozoites were inverted pear-shaped, approximately 12-16.5μm long and 6.5-7.7μm wide, with a tangerine skin-like dorsal surface. The ventral sucker was an asymmetric spiral structure on the ventral surface of the anterior end of the trophozoite, or rather, it appeared to be a clockwise spiraling structure starting from its central circular region. The central region of the ventral disc was as uneven as the dorsal surface but the other surfaces of the ventral disc were smooth. A pseudopod-like peripheral wing projecting from the peripheral edge of cell body with a smooth surface was observed forming ventral and dorsal marginal grooves respectively with the lateral crest, and the dorsal surface of cell body. The trophozoite has four pairs of flagella emerging from the dorsal marginal groove.