Morphology and histochemistry of the spicules and gubernaculum of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae).

A study has been made of the morphological, histological and histochemical characteristics of spicules and gubernaculum in Haemonchus contortus (Rud., 1803). The correlation coefficients of body length and left and right spicule lengths, left and right spicule lengths, and the distance of barb from the distal end of left and right spicule ends have been found to be statistically significant while the correlation coefficient of body length and gubernaculum length has been found to be non-significant. The sclerotized part of each spicule is composed of three layers differing in density. The shaft of the spicule possesses dorsal and ventral wings which curve towards the corresponding wings of the other spicule. Gubernaculum is a wedge-shaped structure. The spicules and gubernaculum are mainly proteinaceous. The sclerotized part consists of mainly keratin and collagen. The presence of traces of acid phosphatase in the spicules may represent some metabolic activity. The protoplasmic part is composed of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.