Scanning electron microscopy of the rare nematode species Pterygodermatites bovieri (Nematoda:Rictatuliriidae), a parasite of bats.

External morphology of the nematode Pterygodermatites bovieri (Blanchard, 1886), a very rare parasite of bats in the Palaearctic region, was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Special attention was paid to the cephalic end structure and cuticular armament, which are of great systematic importance in this group of nematodes. The mouth opening of P. bovieri is subterminal and oriented dorsally. Numerous sclerotized denticles, arranged in two rows, are situated in the buccal cavity around the mouth opening. They are better developed in its ventral part. In females there are 12-14 ventral denticles. Cephalic papillae are arranged in two rows: internal (six papillae--two dorsal, two lateral and two ventral) and external (four papillae). Amphids are small, situated close to lateral, cephalic papillae of the internal row. Males possess 40-41 cuticular combs in each ventro-lateral plate row, and, in addition, a short row of four ventral, unpaired precloacal fans. Females in our material possessed 68 cuticular elements represented by combs and spines, in each row. Changes of the cuticular elements shape along the nematode body length are described. Results of SEM observations are compared with previous descriptions of P. bovieri based on the light microscopical observations.