Sucker (parasitic worms anatomy)
Encyclopedia
The sucker is an attachment organ of parasitic worm
s.
In the class Trematodes (flukes), there are an oral sucker and a ventral sucker or acetabulum
as exemplified by Dicrocoelium dendriticum
.
In the class Cestoda
(tapeworms), suckers can be found on the scolex as exemplified in the species Taenia saginata
.
In the class Turbellaria
, only the species of the order Temnocephalida
are parasitic and possess an adhesive disc.
In the class Monogenea
, buccal organs, also known as buccal suckers, are present in worm parasites
of the order Mazocraeidea
. They are known to have muscular, glandular, and sensory components thought to play some role in blood feeding.
es all have an anterior (oral) sucker formed from the first six segments of their body, which is used to connect to a host for feeding, and also release an anesthetic to prevent the host from feeling the leech. They use a combination of mucus and suction (caused by concentric muscles in those six segments) to stay attached and secrete an anti-clotting enzyme, hirudin, into the host's blood stream. The medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) has two suckers, one at each end, called the anterior and posterior sucker. The posterior is mainly used for leverage while the anterior sucker, consisting of the jaw
and teeth, is where the feeding takes place.
differs from other nematodes in that it possess an extended oesophageal cavity, a ventral pre-anal sucker.
Parasitic worm
Parasitic worms or helminths are a division of eukaryoticparasites that, unlike external parasites such as lice and fleas, live inside their host. They are worm-like organisms that live and feed off living hosts, receiving nourishment and protection while disrupting their hosts' nutrient...
s.
In Platyhelminths
In Platyhelminths (flatworms), the sucker is called bothridium.In the class Trematodes (flukes), there are an oral sucker and a ventral sucker or acetabulum
Acetabulum
The acetabulum is a concave surface of the pelvis. The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint.-Structure:...
as exemplified by Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Dicrocoelium dendriticum
The Lancet liver fluke is a parasite fluke that tends to live in cattle or other grazing mammals.- History of discovery :...
.
In the class Cestoda
Cestoda
This article describes the flatworm. For the medical condition, see Tapeworm infection.Cestoda is the name given to a class of parasitic flatworms, commonly called tapeworms, of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Its members live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults, and often in the bodies...
(tapeworms), suckers can be found on the scolex as exemplified in the species Taenia saginata
Taenia saginata
Taenia saginata, also known as Taeniarhynchus saginata or the beef tapeworm, is a parasite of both cattle and humans, causing taeniasis in humans. Taenia saginata occurs where cattle are raised by infected humans maintaining poor hygiene, human feces are improperly disposed of, meat inspection...
.
In the class Turbellaria
Turbellaria
The Turbellaria are one of the traditional sub-divisions of the phylum Platyhelminthes , and include all the sub-groups that are not exclusively parasitic. There are about 4,500 species, which range from to in length...
, only the species of the order Temnocephalida
Temnocephalida
The Temnocephalida are an order of turbellarian flatworms.Unlike most other turbellarians, all the species in this order are either commensal or parasitic. They can be found living on crustaceans, molluscs, and, in some species, even turtles. The commensal species typically live in the gill or...
are parasitic and possess an adhesive disc.
In the class Monogenea
Monogenea
Monogenea are a group of largely ectoparasitic members of the flatworm phylum Platyhelminthes, class Monogenea.-Characteristics:Monogenea are very small parasitic flatworms mainly found on skin or gills of fish....
, buccal organs, also known as buccal suckers, are present in worm parasites
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
of the order Mazocraeidea
Mazocraeidea
Mazocraeidea is a flatworms order in the subclass Polyopisthocotylea.-Families:according to PESI* Anthocotylidae Bychowsky, 1957* Axinidae Monticelli, 1903* Chauhaneidae Euzet & Trilles, 1960* Diclidophoridae Fuhrmann, 1928* Diplozoidae...
. They are known to have muscular, glandular, and sensory components thought to play some role in blood feeding.
In Annelids
LeechLeech
Leeches are segmented worms that belong to the phylum Annelida and comprise the subclass Hirudinea. Like other oligochaetes such as earthworms, leeches share a clitellum and are hermaphrodites. Nevertheless, they differ from other oligochaetes in significant ways...
es all have an anterior (oral) sucker formed from the first six segments of their body, which is used to connect to a host for feeding, and also release an anesthetic to prevent the host from feeling the leech. They use a combination of mucus and suction (caused by concentric muscles in those six segments) to stay attached and secrete an anti-clotting enzyme, hirudin, into the host's blood stream. The medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) has two suckers, one at each end, called the anterior and posterior sucker. The posterior is mainly used for leverage while the anterior sucker, consisting of the jaw
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
and teeth, is where the feeding takes place.
In Nematodes
The parasitic species Myleusnema bicornisMyleusnema bicornis
Myleusnema bicornis, is an intestinal parasite of Myleus ternetzi, or "Ternetz's Silver Dollar", a freshwater Characoid fish commonly found in the French Guiana river. M. bicornis has several unusual morphological characteristics, namely the two postcloacal "horns" in the posterior of males, and a...
differs from other nematodes in that it possess an extended oesophageal cavity, a ventral pre-anal sucker.