PHYLUM

PLATYHELMINTHES
FLAT BODIED WORMS

Class Turbellaria (planarians)
mostly predatory
free living

Class Trematoda (internal flukes)
only parasitic
complex life-cycles

Class Cestoda (tapeworms)
only parasitic

EXAMPLES
PLANARIA FREE LIVING AQUATIC AND
TERRESTRIAL
Herbivore, carnivore, scavenger
TAPEWORMS INTESTINAL PARASITE W/
MORE THAN 1 HOST TAENIA
FLUKES INTERNAL PARASITE W/MORE
THAN ONE HOST
BLOOD FLUKE SCHISTOSOMA
LIVER FLUKE FASCIOLA
TRAITS
ORGAN LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION
BILATERAL SYMMETRY
SAC TYPE BODY 1 OPENING/ no anus
GASTROVASCULAR CAVITY IS BRANCHED
TRIPLOBLASTIC 3 GERM/tissue LAYERS
CEPHALIZATION has a head
BRAIN WITH 2 NERVE CORDS &
TRANSVERSE NERVES
SENSE ORGANS light and chemicals
Occeli/eyespots and auricles/ears

TRAITS
ACOELOMATE no coelom/body cavity
DIFFUSION METHODS FOR:
GAS EXCHANGE - O2 and CO2
WASTE REMOVAL by FLAME CELLS
CIRCULATION of nutrients and waste
REMEMBER: DIFFUSION IS A SLOW
PROCESS; HI TO LO



Epidermis/
ECTODERM
gut cavity
no body cavity; region between
gut and body wall packed with
organs within MESODERM
tissue
Acoelomate organism
(flatworm)
Lining of gut
=ENDODERM
TRAITS
MUSCLES FOR LOCOMOTION

REPRODUCTION
ASEXUAL REGENERATE
SEXUAL HERMAPHRODITES BUT
CROSS FERTILIZE




EVOLUTIONARY
MILESTONE
ORGAN LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION
reproductive, excretory, muscular
BILATERAL SYMMETRY
CEPHALIZATION
Anterior and posterior
Dorsal and ventral
Platyhelminthes Taxonomy
Classes of Phylum Platyhelminthes
--Widely distributed in N. America
-- about 200 species
--Occur in both lakes and streams
-- Stream-dwelling species more
differentiated than lake species
--Species diversity increases in temperate
areas 20 to 60 species per lake



Locomotion in Turbellaria

move by means of cilia and
mucous

2 layers of muscle;
longitudinal and circular
Stimulated by nervous
system
contractions for turning,
twisting and folding of the
body

Class Turbellaria

Free-living flatworms; mostly marine
microscopic to two feet

Nutrition in Turbellaria
carnivores and predators of other animals or dead remains.
muscular pharynx is inserted into prey
Secretes digestive enzymes
Fragments are pumped into mouth on ventral surface
Further digestion in gastrovascular cavity
branching increases the surface area for digestion and absorption
No anus, only mouth;
Undigested food excreted from mouth and pharynx as in cnidaria
GVC aids both digestion and circulation distributes nutrients and
oxygen to tissues

Brain/ganglia nerve cords
Sensory/nervous
Exhibits cephalization
Group of nerve tissue (GANGLIA) at anterior
Ganglia attached to 2 nerve chords
well developed sensory eyespots for light
auricles for chemical and mechanical (touch)
receptors

genital pore
oviduct
testis
ovary
penis
Reproduction in Turbellaria
Asexual---
By fission or dividing
Regeneration of missing parts

Sexual-
hermaphrodites w/ cross-fertilization
Internal fertilization
Zygote released to water


pharynx (protruded)
protonephridia
flame cell
nucleus
cilia
fluid
filters
through
membrane
folds
flame cell
opening of
tubule at
body surface
Cilia of flame cells remove excess
water and nitrogen wastes of body
Waste moves to tubules
Exits out pores in head
Needs excretory system as tissues
become thicker and more cells present

Excretory pore
Flame cells
Excretory tubules
EXCRETION IN TURBELLARIA
Class Trematoda the Flukes

COMMON EXAMPLE
OF COMPLEX
LIFE CYCLE
Class Trematoda

live as parasites
protected from digestion by protein coat
2 suckers:
1. Oral sucker attaches to organs of the host
2. Ventral sucker or acetabulum attaches to host tissues
Types of Hosts

Complex life cycles
Alternate between sexual and asexual stages
Most require at least 2 different kinds of hosts to complete their life
cycle

1. Definitive host (primary host)
where parasite matures and reproduces (sexually)
host in which eggs are released
2. Intermediate host
Hosts in which larval stages develop and undergo asexual
reproduction
Results in an increase in the number of the individuals

Schistosoma

a common blood fluke of SE Asia
causes shistosomiasis
Definitive host = humans
Intermediate host = snails
In humans - eggs penetrate and
damage intestinal and bladder tissue
constant inflammation and eventual
deterioration of liver, spleen and
other organs

General Life Cycle - Chinese liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis

Adults live in the bile ducts of humans, dogs, and cats
There are 2 intermediate hosts: a snail and a fish
Eggs are passed out of the definitive host and hatch as ciliated larvae
called miracidia
The miracidia penetrates a snail molluscan host and becomes a
sporocyst
They undergo asexual reproduction producing larvae called rediae
Rediae often asexually produce more rediae, but will eventually give
rise to larvae called cercariae
They leave the molluscan host and penetrate fish
They encyst in the fish tissues as the metacercaria
Consumption of infected fish results in the metacercaria excysting in
the gut and migrating to the bile duct

Class Cestoda
Protective protein coat
anterior region is called a scolex;
often armed with suckers and hooks
Extending from neck of scolex
is a series of proglottids;
contain sex organs and eggs;
no digestive system
Mature eggs released through
an opening in the proglottid
leave the host when the
proglottids break off

a Larvae
become
encysted in
intermediate
host tissues
b A definitive host eats
infected, undercooked beef
d Many
proglottids
form by
budding
e Ripe proglottids containing
fertilized eggs leave host in feces
f Cattle may ingest
embryonated eggs or ripe
proglottids to become
intermediate hosts
c Scolex of larva
attaches to
intestines wall
Beef Tapeworm, Taeniarhynchus saginatus

Definitive host = humans;
intermediate host = cattle
Eggs are shed with human feces;
infected persons defecate in a pasture or untreated sewage
eggs are ingested by cattle
Eggs hatch
larvae bore into intestinal wall
get into the circulatory system
transported to muscle
If uncooked beef is consumed the larvae is freed
scolex develops, forming the adult
Symptoms include loss of weight, chronic indigestion, diarrhea