The Animal Parasites of Man. Max Braun
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Название: The Animal Parasites of Man

Автор: Max Braun

Издательство: Bookwire

Жанр: Медицина

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isbn: 4057664648037

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СКАЧАТЬ regarded as the descendants of the lowest Rhizopoda. We know that the Trematoda, and through these the Cestoda, are closely related to the Turbellaria, from which they may be traced. The Nematoda, and still more the Acanthocephala, stand apart. This is less evident, however, in the Nematoda, for there are numerous free-living members of these from which it is possible that the parasitic species may be descended. Indeed, this seems more than probable if such examples as Leptodera, Rhabdonema and Strongyloides are taken into consideration, as well as the conditions of life of free-living nematodes. These mostly, if not exclusively, spend their lives in places where decomposing organic substances are present in quantities; some species attain maturity only in such localities, and there propagate very rapidly. Should the favourable conditions for feeding be changed, the animals seek out other localities, or they remain in the larval form for some time until more favourable conditions set in. It is comprehensible that such forms are very likely to adopt a parasitic manner of life which at first is facultative (Leptodera, Anguillula), but may be regarded as the transition to true parasitism. The great advantages attached to a parasitic life consist not only in protection, but also in the supply of suitable food, and consequently in the easier and greater production of eggs, and thus fully account for the gradual passage of facultative parasitism into true parasitism. In many forms the young stages live free for some time (Strongylidæ), in others, as is the case in Rhabdonema, parasitic and free-living generations alternate; in others, again, the free period is limited to the egg stage or entirely suppressed.

      Though it is possible thus to connect the parasitic with the free-living nematodes, by taking their manner of life into account, this matter presents greater difficulties in regard to other helminthes. It is true that the segmented Cestoda may be connected with and traced from the less known and interesting single-jointed Cestoda (Amphilina, Archigetes, Caryophyllæus, Gyrocotyle). Trematodes are all parasites, with the exception of one group, Temnocephalidæ, several genera and species of which live on the surface of the bodies of Crustacea and turtles of tropical and sub-tropical freshwaters. Temnocephalidæ are, nevertheless, predacious. They feed on Infusoria, the larvæ of small insects and Crustacea. So far as is known they do not nourish themselves on part of the host. They belong to the group of commensals, or more correctly, to that of the SPACE PARASITES, which simply dwell with their host and do not even take a portion of the superfluity of its food. However, space parasitism may still be regarded as the first stage of commensalism, which is again to be regarded as a sort of transition to true parasitism.

      It is possible that parasitism came about in this way in the trematodes, in which connection we must first consider the turbellaria-like ancestors of the trematodes. Much can be said in favour of such a genetic relationship between turbellaria and trematodes, and hardly anything against it. It should also be remembered that amongst the few parasitic turbellaria there are some that possess clinging discs or suctorial pores, and these are only differentiated from ectoparasitic trematodes by the possession of a ciliated integument, which is found only in the larval stages of the latter.

      The Acanthocephala occupy an isolated position. Most authors certainly regard them as related to the nematodes; in any case, the connection is not a close one, and the far-reaching alterations which must have occurred prevent a clear view. Perhaps the free original forms of Acanthocephala are no longer in existence, but that such must have existed is a foregone conclusion.

      An explanation of the CHANGE OF HOST so frequent in parasites is more difficult than that of their descent. R. Leuckart is of opinion that the present intermediate hosts, which belong principally to the lower animals, were the original hosts of the parasites, and fostered both their larval and adult stages. It was only in course of time that the original hosts sank to the position of intermediate hosts, the cause for this alteration being that the development of parasites, especially of the helminthes, through further development and differentiation extended over a larger number of stages. The earlier stages remained in their original hosts, but the later stages sought out other hosts (higher animals). To prove this, Leuckart points out that the mature stages of the helminthes, with but few exceptions, occur only in the vertebrates which appeared later in the development of the animal kingdom, while the great majority of intestinal worms of the lower animals only represent young stages, which require transmission into a vertebrate animal before they can become mature. The few helminthes that attain maturity in the lower animals (Aspidogaster, Archigetes) are therefore regarded by Leuckart as primitive forms, and he compares them with the developmental stages of helminthes, Aspidogaster with rediæ, Archigetes with cysticercoids. He classes the nematodes that become mature in the invertebrates with Anguillulidæ, i.e., with saprophagous nematodes from which the parasitic species descend.

      This is not the place to express an opinion either for or against the various hypotheses advanced, but the existence of these diametrically opposed views alone will show the great difficulty of the question. Independently, however, it appears more natural to come to the conclusion that parasitism, as well as change of hosts, were gradual transitions.

      As a conclusion to this introductory chapter, a list of some of the most important works on the parasitology of man and animals is appended.

      LITERATURE.

      Goeze, J. A. E. Versuch einer Naturgeschichte der Eingeweidewürmer thierischer Körper. Blankenburg, 1782. 4to, 471 pp., with 44 plates.

      Zeder, J. G. H. Erster Nachtrag zur Naturgeschichte der Eingeweidewürmer. von J. A. E. Goeze. Leipzig, 1800. 4to, with 6 tables.

      Rudolphi, C. A. Entozoorum sive vermium intestinalium historia naturalis. I, Amstelod., 1808; ii, 1809. 8vo, with 18 plates.

      Rudolphi, C. A. Entozoorum synopsis. Berol., 1819. 8vo, with 3 plates.

      Bremser, J. G. Ueber lebende Würmer im lebenden Menschen. Wien, 1819. 8vo, with 4 plates.

      Bremser, J. G. Icones helminthum, systema Rudolphii entozoologicum illustrantes. Viennae, 1824. Fol. (Paris, 1837).

      Dujardin, F. Histoire naturelle des helminthes ou vers intestinaux. Paris, 1845. 8vo, with 12 plates.

      Diesing, C. M. Systema helminthum. 2 vols. Vindobonnae, 1850, 1851. СКАЧАТЬ