The anterior nervous system in the praesoma of five species of the genus Neoechinorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from turtles

Abstract

The nerve pathways in the praesoma are described for five species of Neoechinorhynchus from turtles, based on light microscopy of serial transverse, sagittal, and longitudinal sections stained with Ehrlich's acid haematoxylin. The route from the cerebral ganglion to the musculature and sense organs of the proboscis and body wall for 11 nerves, 5 paired and 1 single, the presence and structure of the Stützzelle, and its association with the neck sense organs are described. A comparison with the nervous system in the praesoma of Paulisentis fractus and Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus is given.