Survival, physical and physiological changes of Taenia hydatigena eggs under different conditions of water stress

- The physical and physiological changes of T. hydatigena eggs exposed at different conditions of water stress are described.
- The formation of clumps and the use of triacylglycerols are key to long-term eggs resistance to these stress conditions.
- The findings shown herein provide bases to better comprehend basic biology and epidemiology of T. hydatigena

Taenia hydatigena eggs were investigated for morphological and physiological changes under water stress conditions. Fresh eggs were exposed at 31%, 47% and 89% of relative humidity (RH), and survival, size and ultrastructural changes were accounted up to 365 days of exposition. The article shows how each RH environment affects the vitality of the eggs. Results of this study suggest that T. hydatigena eggs have mechanisms to withstand water stress, indicating that the eggs clustering improves protection against desiccation, and that endogenous metabolism using triacylglycerols play an important role in the maintenance of embryo vitality under low, medium and high relative humidity conditions. This contributes to understanding the water stress resistance mechanism in eggs belonging to Taeniidae family. The findings shown herein have provided a basis to better comprehend basic biology and epidemiology of the cysticercosis caused by T. hydatigena.

Morphological changes between fresh and aged Taenia hydatigena eggs ageing under water stress at 31% of relative humidity. a: fresh eggs, 400x. b: aged egg after 365 days of ageing with a break of the embryophoric layer, 400x. c: aged egg after 365 of ageing showing an apparently crystallized embryo, 400x. d:. deformed eggs after 90 days of ageing with poliedric shape, 4,300x.228