Studies on the excretory system of amphistome parasites of ruminants

The excretory systems of Gastrothylax crumenifer, Fischoederius elongatus and F. cobboldi have been described. In all three species it shows the characteristic, more or less H-shaped, pattern of the amphistome excretory system. The difference between the systems in the three species lies in the nature of the branches of the anterior portions of the longitudinal excretory ducts, in the transverse excretory ducts and the branches received by them and in the number of flame cells at the ends of the capillaries. The main longitudinal excretory ducts run internal to the intestinal caeca in G. crumenifer and F. cobboldi, while in F. elongatus they run almost external to the caeca and maintain this position even in the posterior half of the body, where the caeca are not present.