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Nematodes

1) Nematodes are a phylum of unsegmented roundworms that occur worldwide in nearly every habitat and are likely the most abundant multicellular animals. 2) They have a complete digestive system but lack circulatory and respiratory systems, with hydrostatic pressure and pharyngeal pumping keeping their stomachs from collapsing. 3) Nematodes are important as plant and animal parasites, in biological control, and as models for research due to their small size and rapid lifecycles.

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Antonette Apani
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31 views12 pages

Nematodes

1) Nematodes are a phylum of unsegmented roundworms that occur worldwide in nearly every habitat and are likely the most abundant multicellular animals. 2) They have a complete digestive system but lack circulatory and respiratory systems, with hydrostatic pressure and pharyngeal pumping keeping their stomachs from collapsing. 3) Nematodes are important as plant and animal parasites, in biological control, and as models for research due to their small size and rapid lifecycles.

Uploaded by

Antonette Apani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Phylum Nematomorpha

“Horsehair worms”
in Jaycox Creek
Phylum Nematoda (round worms)

20 K species described but


plenty more unknown

Occur in every conceivable


habitat on Earth

Probably most abundant animal


group ( 1 million/m2 in sediments)

Important parasites of plants


and animals
1 mm
Gut complete and differentiated
Phylum Nematoda (round worms)
General Characteristics Pseudocoelomate
or acoelomate
Unsegmented

Organs not enveloped in peritoneum

No circular muscles or cilia


Gut complete and differentiated

Inflexible cuticle and tight musculature maintain a very


high hydrostatic pressure in the body cavity.

What keeps the stomach from collapsing? Pharynx


keeps pumping fluid to keep the stomach turgid.

Nematodes feed on cell sized particles (e.g. bacteria)


Arrangement of muscles and functioning of the
nervous system imposes limitations on
locomotory movement.

Nerve cords do not innervate muscles; rather


non-contractile extensions of the muscle fibers
hook up to the nerve cords

Other Common name:


Whipworms
Nematoda Phylogeny

-recent analyses of morphology


and gene sequences suggests they
are related to the arthropods

-ecdysone-like molting hormones


in some nematodes and insect
molting hormone stimulates at
least one nematode species to
molt.

-Grouped with arthropods and


several other small phyla into a
clade or lineage called the
Ecdysozoa
Nematodes are very important as:

Plant parasites

Biological pest control for crops

Parasites of vertebrates:
hookworms
pinworms
heartworms
trichina worms
filarial worms

Biological Models
Hookworms and pinworms drink blood, infections of 1000 worms
per host are not unusual… half a liter of blood

Wucheraria plugs the lymphatic system causing substantial buildup


of fluid and subsequent dense growth of connective tissue ;
120 million people are afflicted presently

Many make extensive migrations; Larvae of Onchocerca often


migrate to the victim’s eyes. Chronic damage is responsible for
River blindness…18 million

Pinworms infect about 500 million people, 20% of U.S. children

Dracunculus medinensis, the female, often 1 m long, releases ulcer


producing secretion. When the skin comes into contact with water
she lays millions of offspring in a day. Juves are ingested by
copepods, and pass to humans who drink contaminated water
Biological Models: Caenorhabiditis elegans
grown in small petri dishes, fed bacteria, parthenogenic

Small cell # (hundreds), 6 chromosomes, 20,000 genes, first animal


whose genome was sequenced,
- Eutely: limit # of cells as adult; growth by cells becoming
larger
-Apoptosis: extensive programmed cell death
-Chromosome diminution: During embryogenesis, the elimination of
certain chromosomes from cells that form somatic tissues- a very
unusual mechanism of gene regulation.

C. elegans
cell line
showing
extensive
apoptosis

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