Cytology, reproduction, and sex determination of Strongyloides ransomi and S. papillosus

Abstract

Parasitic females of Strongyloides ransomi and Strongyloides papillosus have 4 chromosomes and reproduce exclusively by mitotic (apomictic) parthenogenesis. The free-living generation includes females and males. The females have 2 pairs of chromosomes of unequal size and reproduce by meiotic parthenogenesis following obligatory pseudofertilization (gynogenesis). The males undergo spermatogenesis by the regular meiotic process and have the same chromosomal complement as the females. During prophase I, however, a portion of one homologue of the large bivalent breaks free and subsequently is diminished, as in S. ransomi, or it rejoins the original homologue, as in S. papillosus. This behavior of meiotic chromosomes during spermatogenesis suggests that the karyotype of these species has evolved from a karyotype analogous to that of Strongyloides ratti with 2 pairs of autosomes and a pair of X chromosomes, following fusion of the X chromosome with an autosome and the formation of a Neo-X and a Neo-Y chromosome. The female karyotype of S. ransomi and S. papillosus thus may be 2A + 2 Neo-X. The males are phenotypic males and have the same karyotype as the females, but their functional karyotype may be 2A + Neo-X + Neo-Y.