Fig 1.
Motility pattern of O. volvulus (from L3 to L4) in the cell-free culture systems.
A DMEM, 10% FBS/NCS. B IMDM, 10% FBS/NCS. C MEM, 10% FBS/NCS. D NCTC 135, 10% FBS/NCS. E RPMI1640, 10% FBS/NCS. (Results were pooled from different independent experiments [n = 3] and each experimental setting conducted in quadruplets). Dots represent mean motility and the ranges denote the standard error of the mean.
Fig 2.
Influence of cell-free culture systems on O. volvulus larvae moults in vitro.
Bars represent mean moulting rate, the ranges denote the standard deviation and fractions above bars stand for the total number of larvae moulted over the total number of larvae cultured. Results were pooled from different independent experiments [n = 3] and each experimental setting conducted in quadruplets.
Fig 3.
Motility pattern of O. volvulus larval stages in cell-based co-culture systems.
Dots represent mean motility; ranges denote the standard error of the mean and figures highlighted on the curve represent the total number of active worms (Day 233) over the total number of worms cultured at the onset. Results were pooled from different independent experiments [n = 3] and each experimental setting conducted in quadruplets.
Table 1.
O. volvulus attrition disparity in different culture systems.
Fig 4.
Influence of cell-based co-culture systems on O. volvulus larvae moults in vitro.
Bars represent mean moulting rate, ranges denote the standard deviation and fractions above bars stand for the total number of larvae moulted over the total number of larvae cultured. Results were pooled from different independent experiments, n = 3 and each experimental setting conducted in quadruplets.
Fig 5.
Disparity in sex-dependent worm morphometry changes in different cell-based co-culture systems.
A DMEM, 10% NCS–LLC-MK2 cells. B DMEM, 10% FBS–LLC-MK2 cells. C DMEM, 10% NCS–HEK293 cells. D DMEM, 10% NCS–HC04 cells. Dots represent the median and figure above each dot denotes the number of worms measured at that given time point.
Fig 6.
O. volvulus adult male and female worm entanglement in vitro.
Adult male and female worm at day 212 involved in the attachment: The male worm posterior end (m-pe) is attached to the vulva region of the female worm (ar) which lasted for 12 days and could indicate possible mating. The male worm anterior end (m-ae) was coiled and facing the same direction as the female worm anterior end (f-ae).
Fig 7.
The anterior end of O. volvulus adult worm at day 233 (dorsoventral view).
An overall view of the anterior end of adult O. volvulus worms highlighting the location of the cuticle (c), the buccal cavity (bc), oesophagus (e) and the nerve ring (nr).
Fig 8.
An adult female worm at approximately midbody at day 315 (ventral view).
A Female adult worm anterior region by day 315 displaying well-developed nerve ring (nr). B Same female adult worm at approximately midbody showing the well-developed and opened vulva (v), which is a probable indication that mating had occurred in vitro, The cuticle is indicated by (c). The opened vulva exhibits a cavity (vc), which is connected to the ovijector tube (ot).
Fig 9.
An adult female worm at day 315 displaying the inner reproductive organs (ventral view).
A Overall morphology of adult female worm showing the anterior end (ae), the posterior end (pe) and the developed nerve ring (nr). B Adult female worm at approximately mid-body exhibiting an opened vulva (v) and the vulva cavity (vc) is directly connected to the ovijector tube (ot), which is posteriorly split into two separate tubes at the ovijector-uteri junction (ot-u) to form the uteri (u).
Fig 10.
Posterior end of an adult female worm (lateral view).
A female worm at day 315 with well-differentiated sigmoid-like seminal receptacle (sr) followed by the posterior end of the uteri (oviducts) and the anal opening (a).
Fig 11.
Adult male worm posterior end exhibiting well developed genital features (A and B: lateral view) and developed testis approximately at male worm mid-body (C: lateral view). A and B Male worm at day 315 displaying mature genital features, developed spicules (s) attached to retractor muscles (rm), the bursa (b), the ductus deferens (dd), the cuticle (c) and the caudal papillae (cp). C Mid-body of an adult male worm at day 233 illustrating the advance developmental state of the testis (t) C-shaped, curved posteriorly, with a high degree of cellular organization and the genital tube (gt).
Fig 12.
Early and late particulate matter adherence around O. volvulus young adults in vitro (day 177).
A Early adherence of particulate matter (pa) along the worm (w) external wall. B Gathering of particulate matter (pa) into a globular/oval mass shape engulfing the young adult worms (w).