Examination of Selected Helminth Parasites by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Helminths are multicellular organisms which may cause infections with serious symptoms. Their study by veterinary and medical researchers is essential. Analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques are quite common for parasitological studies. However, sometimes conventional SEM is not suitable because only a small number or only one sample of a rare parasite is available. The aim of this work is to demonstrate results of unique observations of basics groups of helminth parasites (Nematoda, Cestoda, Trematoda and Acanthocephala) by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) with minimal shape and volume deformations. We also show the advantages of studying of this specific type of biological samples in controlled dynamically changing conditions in the specimen chamber of non-commercial ESEM AQUASEM II. This microscope is equipped with many types of special detectors (for example by the ionization detector of SEs used in this work), specially designed hydration system and custom built Peltier cooled specimen holder. Specimens from four groups of above mentioned parasites fixed in 4% formaldehyde solution or 70% ethanol were investigated using ESEM. The samples were cooled down to 2°C and observed in high pressure water vapour environment of 680–600 Pa, probe current 110 pA and beam accelerating voltage 20 kV. Samples were placed on a Peltier cooled specimen holder to a drop of water. Consequently the water was slowly evaporated from the sample. Specimen examination proceeded in fully hydrated state and without any previous preparations. This method has proven its usefulness and effectivity in morphological and taxonomic studies of the parasites. |
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