Growth, development and allometry of Philophthalmus nocturnus in the eyes of domestic chicks

Abstract

ABSTRACTFifty day-old chicks were each infected with 10 excysted metaccreariae of Philophthalimus nocturnus Looss. 1907 around each orbit and growth, development and allometry were studied. The growth rate showed two phases over a period of 35 days, a limited lag phase lasting two days post-infection in which flukes did not exceed 440 μm in length, and a rapid phase during which growth was rapid and flukes reached a size of 3·008–3·504 mm on day 35. Five developmental stages were noticed during the course of development of the metacercaria to the egg-producing adult stage. Eggs appeared in the uterus on day 14 and oculate miracidia on day 25. The hindhody, testes and ovary showed positive allometric growth, the pharnyx less so, whereas negative allometric growth was shown by the forebody. Body width, oral sucker and ventral sucker were close to isometry, growing at the same rate as the body length.