Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach

Abstract Background The male genital structures of arthropods are key features in the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of these organisms. The male genitalia of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis are complex organs which are partly composed of structures that dynamically extrude during copulat...

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Autores principales:	Blanca E. Álvarez-Fernández, María Morales-Suárez-Varela, Benjamín Nogueda-Torres, M. Adela Valero
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Copulation Genital chamber Dilator Genitalia Pediculus humanus capitis Vesica Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/799a18071be24923b3fa6e924909c3cd
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:799a18071be24923b3fa6e924909c3cd2021-11-21T12:26:17ZPediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach10.1186/s13071-021-05082-w1756-3305https://doaj.org/article/799a18071be24923b3fa6e924909c3cd2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-05082-whttps://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305Abstract Background The male genital structures of arthropods are key features in the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of these organisms. The male genitalia of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis are complex organs which are partly composed of structures that dynamically extrude during copulation. Methods Here, we describe the morphology of the genitalia of P. humanus capitis at the copulation stage, and at rest, by using stereoscopic microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results CLSM and SEM images revealed that the vesica is composed of two distinct anatomical parts, the proximal lobe and the distal lobe. Both lobes have short and narrow spines, as well as long and wide scales with either sharp or rounded tips. The rounded scales vary in size and have a wavy base and rounded tips, and thus resemble a tongue in appearance. We identified a gland-like area on the penis with 11 shallow circular depressions, and a flat area with 14–16 exit orifices. The apical end of the penis has a foliaceous trifurcation and serves to expel the contents of the ejaculatory duct. These characteristics were recorded for all the specimens analyzed, indicating that these structures are highly conserved; to our knowledge, they have not been previously reported for any suborder of lice. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, our results reveal for the first time the morphological details, and complexity, of the male genitalia of the head louse P. humanus capitis at different stages of copulation. The new approach described here provided information that should be taken into consideration in future research on the genitalia of lice. Application of this approach will also impact the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of other insect taxa. Graphical AbstractBlanca E. Álvarez-FernándezMaría Morales-Suárez-VarelaBenjamín Nogueda-TorresM. Adela ValeroBMCarticleCopulationGenital chamberDilatorGenitaliaPediculus humanus capitisVesicaInfectious and parasitic diseasesRC109-216ENParasites & Vectors, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Copulation Genital chamber Dilator Genitalia Pediculus humanus capitis Vesica Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216
spellingShingle	Copulation Genital chamber Dilator Genitalia Pediculus humanus capitis Vesica Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Blanca E. Álvarez-Fernández María Morales-Suárez-Varela Benjamín Nogueda-Torres M. Adela Valero Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
description	Abstract Background The male genital structures of arthropods are key features in the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of these organisms. The male genitalia of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis are complex organs which are partly composed of structures that dynamically extrude during copulation. Methods Here, we describe the morphology of the genitalia of P. humanus capitis at the copulation stage, and at rest, by using stereoscopic microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results CLSM and SEM images revealed that the vesica is composed of two distinct anatomical parts, the proximal lobe and the distal lobe. Both lobes have short and narrow spines, as well as long and wide scales with either sharp or rounded tips. The rounded scales vary in size and have a wavy base and rounded tips, and thus resemble a tongue in appearance. We identified a gland-like area on the penis with 11 shallow circular depressions, and a flat area with 14–16 exit orifices. The apical end of the penis has a foliaceous trifurcation and serves to expel the contents of the ejaculatory duct. These characteristics were recorded for all the specimens analyzed, indicating that these structures are highly conserved; to our knowledge, they have not been previously reported for any suborder of lice. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, our results reveal for the first time the morphological details, and complexity, of the male genitalia of the head louse P. humanus capitis at different stages of copulation. The new approach described here provided information that should be taken into consideration in future research on the genitalia of lice. Application of this approach will also impact the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of other insect taxa. Graphical Abstract
format	article
author	Blanca E. Álvarez-Fernández María Morales-Suárez-Varela Benjamín Nogueda-Torres M. Adela Valero
author_facet	Blanca E. Álvarez-Fernández María Morales-Suárez-Varela Benjamín Nogueda-Torres M. Adela Valero
author_sort	Blanca E. Álvarez-Fernández
title	Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
title_short	Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
title_full	Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
title_fullStr	Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
title_full_unstemmed	Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
title_sort	pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/799a18071be24923b3fa6e924909c3cd
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Pediculus humanus capitis: a study of the male genitalia using a combined stereoscopic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning electron microscopy approach

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