A HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE INTESTINAL LESIONS INDUCED BY ECHINORHYNCHUS LAGENIFORMIS (ACANTHOCEPHALA—ECHINORHYNCHIDAE) IN THE STARRY FLOUNDER

Abstract

Echinorhynchus lageniformis Ekbaum, 1938, a common acanthocephalan parasite of the starry flounder, causes extensive damage to the intestinal wall of the host. The female parasite appears to penetrate more deeply than the male and induces formation of a chronic nodular outgrowth outside the intestinal wall. A histopathological study of the early and advanced lesions is reported.