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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ambiphrya

Ambiphrya Raabe, 1952 (ref. ID; 3972)
  1. Ambiphrya ameiuri (Thompson, Kirkegaard & Jahn, 1947) (ref. ID; 3972)
    Syn; Scyphidia ameiuri Thompson, Kirkegaard & Jahn, 1947 (ref. ID; 3972)
  2. Ambiphrya miri Raabe, 1952 (ref. ID; 3972)

Ambiphrya ameiuri (Thompson, Kirkegaard & Jahn, 1947) (ref. ID; 3972)

Synonym

Scyphidia ameiuri Thompson, Kirkegaard & Jahn, 1947 (ref. ID; 3972)

Description

The peritrich Ambiphrya ameiuri is short and cylindrical and has a scopula at the base for attachment. Except for the haplokinety, polykinety, and the median band of cilia, the organism lacks cilia. In a contracted state, the adoral cilia are drawn inside the peristomial cavity, but when extended they are visible. The pellicle is modified to form a median membrane which is associated with five rows of cilia forming the median ciliary band. The pellicle is transversely striated from the apical to the basal region with membrane spheres randomly dispersed over the pellicular annuli. Other pellicular features have been described previously for the sessiline peritrichs by Lom & Corliss (1968) and Fish & Goodwin (1976); the pellicle has a trilayered appearance, an electron opaque area beneath the outer membranes, and an electron dense filament in the epiplasmic ridges. In the scopular region, the pellicle changes from the regular, thin, elongate, epiplasmic ridges of the body to lobular projections that are one-half their height. These scopular projections extend toward the gill and often contain microtubular arrays 0.4-0.6 um in length. These arrays are probably barren kinetosomes. Many vacuoles are located in the basal region and may be responsible for the secretion of adhesive attachment fibers. The scopula of A. ameiuri attaches directly to the gill epithelium of the host via adhesive fibers from the scopular region. The fibers vary in length and often correspond to the scopular projection. In addition to the fibrous elements, amorphous substances and membrane whorls fill the region between the peritrich and the gill. The scopula has a vaulted center with a fibrous surface. Some of the fibrous material was observed around the peritrich and on the gill surface after the peritrich was removed. Host modifications in response to the attachment often peritrich were an apparent increase or localization of the surface projections of the gill epithelia; the appearance of a very pronounced terminal web in the infested gill epithelia; and the presence of pits on the surface of the gill epithelia, which had raised centers. Gill tissue, not infested with the protozoa, did not exhibit these modifications. The numbers of A. ameiuri varied on the gill surface from three to four organisms per lamella; however, in some instances the lamellae were almost totally covered by the ciliate. (ref. ID; 3972)

Comments

Microtubular arrays located within the scopular projections are probably barren kinetosomes. Barren kinetosomes have been observed in S. ubiquita; however, the kinetosomes of S. ubiquita were shorter (0.25-0.30 um) that those observed in A. ameiuri (0.4-0.6 um). The length of the kinetosomes of A. ameiuri is similar to that known for the basal bodies of the suctorian Tokophrya infusionum (Stein) just prior to Tokophrya's reproduction by budding. The vaulted scopula of A. ameiuri may be an adaptation to secure the connection with the host. No scopular cilia were found attaching A. ameiuri to the host; instead of cilia, fibers extended from the scopular region to the gill tissue. Ambiphrya ameiuri is an ectocommensal of Ictalurus punctatus. Its method of attachment is maintained by fibrous connections that it apparently produces. (ref. ID; 3972)