The influence of Echinostoma caproni metacercariae (Trematoda) on the survival of biomphalaria molluscs (Pulmonata)

The infrapopulation of the Echinostoma caproni partenites has a development of prolong character (Ataev et al, 2005). However, in laboratory conditions, Biomphalaria molluscs infested with this parasite die within 1--3 weeks after the beginning of cercariae emission. It has been suggested that autoinvasion of the mollusc host with the cercariae, which use it as second intermediate host, is the cause of this phenomenon. Studying the dynamics of metacercariae accumulation in the host (both infected and non-infected with the Echinostoma caproni rediae) and experiments where quantity of cercariae around molluscs reduced by different ways, confirmed this hypothesis. Evidently, pathogenicity of metacercariae for molluscs is lesser in nature, because the concentration of cercariae reduces to the values, which do not result in lethal effect: some part of cercariae dies, but another part uses other animals as a host (Haas, 2000).     

Diversity of trematode larvae in gastropod molluscs in water bodies of Belarus

The analysis of literary data and own investigations of gastropod molluscs on existence of cercariae of trematodes in Belarus was carried out. 13 856 specimens of 11 species and 2 species complexes of freshwater gastropod molluscs were examined on infection with cercariae of trematodes in 2010 by the authors of this article. Total infestation was 13.1% and infection of some molluscs species varied from 0.4% (Dnieper River, Gomel region) to 66.7% (Lukomskoe reservoir, Vitebsk region). The cercariae of 90 trematode species were found. The majority (51 species) at the adult stage parasitize birds. The cercariae of 14 trematode species have medical significance.     

Influence of saccharose on the development of cercariae from Schistosoma mansoni strains BH and SJ.

The development of cercariae from Schistosoma mansoni strains BH and SJ in Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria tenagophila treated with saccharose was studied. The molluscs were maintained in dechlorinated tap water containing 0.01% saccharose. After one week of treatment with saccharose, B. glabrata and B. tenagophila were exposed to ten S. mansoni miracidia, from BH and SJ strains respectively. Control snails of both species were maintained in dechlorinated tap water without saccharose and exposed to the same number of miracidia. There was no significant difference between the infection rates of snails treated or not with saccharose. However, the two groups of B. glabrata had significantly greater infection rates than the corresponding B. tenagophila groups. Molluscs treated with saccharose had a lower survival rate, with the greatest mortality occurring immediately before and at the beginning of cercariae release. Treatment with saccharose did not result in the release of more cercariae, but larvae from molluscs so treated showed a greater capacity to penetrate mouse skin, which was attributed to the greater energy supply during larval development in the mollusc.     

A description of the parthenogenetic metacercaria and cercaria of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercaria falsicingulae I</Emphasis> larva nov. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) from the snails <Emphasis Type="Italic">Falsicingula</Emphasis> spp. (Gastropoda), with speculation on an unusual life-cycle

Previously unknown gymnophallid parthenogenetic metacercariae (PM), referred to as Cercaria falsicingulae I larva nov., were found in the extrapallial cavities of the snails Falsicingula mundana (Yokoyama) and F. athera (Bartsch) on coasts of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Unlike all other known PM, rather than producing metacercariae infective to the definitive host, their furcocercariae emerge into the environment. The developing cercariae and metacercariae of C. falsicingulae I are described and compared with other gymnophallid larvae from littoral molluscs in the region. Experimental evidence and analysis of metacercarial group composition in naturally infected molluscs indicate that some cercariae leave their molluscan hosts and penetrate other specimens of Falsicingula in which they develop into new cercariae-producing PM. Metacercariae with developing hermaphroditic reproductive organs were never observed in naturally infected molluscs. A probable life-cycle for C. falsicingulae I is presented in which cercarial/metacercarial production is switched seasonally in order to enable the infection of the definitive hosts by PM. Importantly, the 'cercaria - PM - cercaria' component of the life-cycle appears to be somewhat autonomous.     

Black Sea mollusc, Cerithium vulgatum (Gastropoda, Cerithiidae), a new intermediate trematode host

The mollusc Cerithium vulgatum was first recorded as a new intermediate host of trematodes from the Black Sea. Two species of cercariae (Cercaria I and Ceracaria II) parasitizing this mollusc were found and described. The general infestation of molluscs was 7.54 per cent. Eight species of larval trematodes parasitzing 7 other species of sea molluscs were found.     

The distribution and incidence of larval trematodes in the freshwater fauna of the Wentloog level, South Wales

The Wentloog level, in South Wales, is a low-lying coastal plain dissected by a network of drainage channels. The latter contain a rich aquatic invertebrate fauna which harbour a wide range of larval digenetic trematodes. Few of the host species examined were not infected with larval trematodes. Miracidia together with their associated sporocysts, rediae and cercariae were more host specific than metacercariae but many of the miracidia which developed in pulmonate molluscs could do so in more than one genus. Metacercarial host specificity is less rigid, and usually species are only restricted to members of one phylum although several were found which could develop in two or more phyla. Most larval stages showed some host preference when they occurred in several host species and this was attributed to ecological or physiological factors or to mechanical barriers. Seasonal variation of infection rate occurs in all larval stages: infection with developing cercariae showed peaks during June and August, but metacercarial infection rates varied according to the host. In molluscs there may be two peaks of infection with metacercariae (as in the cercarial stages), but for many arthropods infections show a gradual increase through the year. The factors mainly responsible for these seasonal changes are considered to be the life-cycle of the intermediate hosts and the environmental temperature, the latter acting on the rate of development of the trematodes. Rainfall, and patterns of egg production of adult trematodes in the definitive hosts are also important.     

Infection patterns in white sea blue mussels Mytilus edulis of different age and size with metacercariae of Himasthla elongata (Echinostomatidae) and Cercaria parvicaudata (Renicolidae)

Infection of mussels Mytilus edulis L. by 2 trematode species was studied in a natural intertidal population in the Chupa inlet of the White Sea. The prevalence of metacercariae of Himasthla elongata (Mehlis, 1831) and Cercaria parvicaudata (Stunkard & Shaw, 1931) in mussels reached 100% in 3 to 4 yr old molluscs and remained at this level in older individuals. Infection intensity increased evenly with the age of the molluscan host, showing a tendency to decrease only in the oldest (9 yr old) mussels. These patterns of age dynamics of prevalence and infection intensity were associated with accumulation of trematode larvae in the course of the molluscs' lives. Ability of metacercariae to exist in mussels for long periods (at least 2.5 yr) was verified in the course of an experiment, during which infected molluscs were kept in a subtidal net cage. Decrease of infection intensity in the oldest individuals may reflect selective mortality of the most severely infected molluscs. Among mussels of the same age, higher infection intensity values occurred in larger individuals. This may be due to an enhanced pumping rate in large molluscs, which increases the probability of cercariae, free-living trematode larvae, infecting them via water currents.     

Diagnostic of Biomphalaria snails and Schistosoma mansoni: DNA obtained from traces of shell organic materials

Freshwater snails belonging to the genus Biomphalaria act as intermediate hosts for the parasite trematode Schistosoma mansoni in Africa and in the neotropical region. Identification of such molluscs is carried out based on morphological characters and the presence of cercariae is verified through squeezing snails between two glass slides or by exposing them to artificial light. However, sometimes, the material collected includes molluscs with decomposed bodies or, yet, only empty shells, which precludes their identification and S. mansoni detection. Due to these difficulties, we have developed a methodology in which DNA may be extracted from traces of organic material from inside shells in order to identify molluscs through polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism and to detect S. mansoni into these snails, by using low stringency polymerase chain reaction. Species-specific profiles obtained from B. glabrata, B. straminea, and B. tenagophila snails and their shells, maintained in laboratory for ten years, showed the same profiles. S. mansoni profiles showed to be present in shell specimens as far as the eighth week after being removed from aquarium.     

Factors that can affect the breeding and maintenance of infected snails and the production of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae

Mass production of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was affected by biological and chemical agents. Rotifers and ostracods, snail predators, were identified in our colony. Rotifers were easily eradicated by washing the aquaria and lettuce with diluted solution of acetic acid. On the other hand, ostracods were difficult to eradicate and led to a high level mortality of infected snails (50-60%). Snails maintained in an incubator at constant temperature and total darkness produced maximum shedding when submitted to brightness and high temperature (about 30 degrees C). The number of cercariae shed was practically the same between pH 5-7. Contaminants such as Cu and Pb added to glass distilled water decreased the cercariae production. In conclusion, laboratory maintenance of large number of infected snails for mass production of cercariae is much simpler and more efficient than the conventional technique with running tap water although a high rate of mortality is observed in the snail colony.     

Behavioral responses of Poecilia vivipara (Osteichthyies: Cyprinodontiformes) to experimental infections of Acanthocollaritrema umbilicatum (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae)

The swimming behavior of Poecilia vivipara was evaluated using an image analysis system comparing laboratory-reared uninfected fish before and after experimental infection with different intensities of cercariae of the trematode Acanthocollaritrema umbilicatum. Two experiments were performed, each with 30 fish which were individually exposed to 30 and 50 cercariae, respectively, shed from experimentally infected molluscs, Heleobia australis. Before and after (17–27 days) infection, the behavior of each fish was monitored in terms of Distance travelled, Ambulatory time, Stereotypic time, Resting time and Average speed. At the end of the experiments, the fish were dissected to count the number of metacercariae recovered. In the experiment with 30 cercariae, fish with 2–10 metacercariae did not exhibit any significant differences in their swimming activity, but those with 11–22 metacercariae had a significantly enhanced Stereotypic time and a reduced Time Resting. In the experiment with 50 cercariae, fish with 5–22 metacercariae had an enhanced Distance travelled and a reduced Average speed; highly significant differences occurred with regard to all behavioral parameters when considering the subgroup 23–36 metacercariae: Distance travelled, Stereotypic time, Resting time, Ambulatory time and Average speed. The swimming behavior of P. vivipara changed influenced by an intensity-dependence on metacercariae of A. umbilicatum, supporting the prediction that parasites are able to alter the behavior of their hosts.     

Effect of parasites on host adaptation to abiotic environmental factors: host-parasite relationship of trematode parthenites--mollusc system

This laboratory study examined the survival of extreme environmental conditions by the White Sea periwinkle Littorina saxatilis. Molluscs from localities with high and low prevalence of Microphallus piriformes, which is a representative of the "pygmaeus" group of digeneans (Microphallidae), were compared. These parasites have not a stage of free-living cercariae in their life cycle. Metacercariae mature inside the sporocysts parasitizing the molluscan host. No negative influence of infection was found on resistance of molluscs to prolonged desiccation and extremes of air and water temperature. On the contrary, significant lower mortality of high infected snails was observed in some experiments. Exposure to fresh water was the only treatment that caused more intensive mortality of high infected snails in comparison with low infected one. The results of the experiments were discussed taking into consideration the available data on mechanisms of molluscan resistance and features in the relationships of "pygmaeus" group sporocysts with the organism of molluscan host. It was emphasized that the wide spread opinion regarding the only negative influence of trematode infection on the resistance of infected molluscs should be revised.     

Schistosoma mansoni: eicosanoid production by cercariae

Cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni are stimulated to penetrate skin by certain free fatty acids. The cercariae have an active arachidonate cascade, presumably using host skin essential fatty acids as cascade precursors. Exposing cercariae to 3.3 mM linoleate for 1, 10, and 60 min resulted in production of a wide variety of eicosanoids. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, eicosanoids coeluting with prostaglandin E2, D2, and A2, leukotriene B4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid standards were identified, as well as unidentified peak positions. Radioimmunoassay confirmed the presence of immunoreactive prostaglandin E1, and E2, and 5- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in cercarial extracts. No eicosanoid production occurred when cercariae were exposed to 3.3 mM oleate and 1 or 330 microM linoleate. Both high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay data indicated that cercariae regulate the production of eicosanoids through time. It is postulated that arachidonate metabolism and subsequent eicosanoid production are required for successful cercarial penetration.     

Effects of the herbicide atrazine's metabolites on host snail mortality and production of trematode cercariae

Environmental stressors have the potential to greatly impact the transmission of parasites with complex, multi-host life cycles such as those of trematodes. The commonly used herbicide atrazine has been shown to affect the susceptibility of second intermediate hosts (such as larval amphibians) to trematode infection, as well as the longevity and infectivity of the free-swimming cercariae, but not eggs or the free-swimming miracidia that infect the gastropod first intermediate hosts. However, we do not know if this pesticide influences the survival of infected snails or whether it affects cercariae production within, or emergence from, these hosts. In addition, previous studies of host-parasite dynamics have only examined the parent atrazine compound, not any of the long-lasting metabolites commonly present in water bodies. Here, we report that a concentration of 0.33 μg/L of an atrazine metabolite, desethyl atrazine, increased the mortality of freshwater gastropods ( Stagnicola elodes ) infected with a gymnocephalus type of cercaria but not that of uninfected snails or those harboring a mature or dormant infection of Echinoparyphium sp. In contrast, 2 wk of exposure to desethyl atrazine did not affect the emergence of gymnocephalus cercariae from snails, although a trend for a decrease in the emergence of Echinoparyphium sp. cercariae was observed. We suggest that simultaneous trematode infection and exposure to contaminants may represent a significant combined stress to gastropods, but this is likely parasite species-specific as well as dependent on whether cercariae are being actively produced.     

Life history and life cycles: production and behavior of trematode cercariae in relation to host exploitation and next-host characteristics

Life history trade-offs affect trematode parasites reproducing inside their 1st intermediate hosts. Within the constraint of the effect on host survival, parasite production of cercariae is subject to a size-numbers trade-off. Within each cercaria, resources must be partitioned between host-seeking and subsequent developmental functions. Three species of microphallid trematodes with the same 1st intermediate host (the gastropod Littorina saxatilis) were investigated. Maritrema arenaria periodically released many small cercariae. Microphallus similis released fewer, 15% larger, cercariae without periodicity. Microphallus similis cercariae were strong swimmers, moving toward the dark and downward in turbulent water, whereas Ma. arenaria cercariae remained suspended. Maritrema arenaria cercariae, although smaller in body and tail size, were produced at an average daily volume nearly twice that of M. similis. These differences are interpreted as transmission adaptations related to mobility and predictability of the 2nd intermediate host. Microphallus similis, with a mobile and less predictable crab host, adopted a 'bethedging' prolonged production of fewer cercariae by less intensive host exploitation, each cercaria having a high allocation to host-seeking behavior. Maritrema arenaria, with predictable sessile barnacle hosts, produced less mobile but potentially longer-lived cercariae in larger numbers. Microphallus piriformes metacercariae remain in the gastropod host. The number of M. piriformes metacercariae increased in larger hosts. The 3 species differed in the number of sporocysts and (meta)cercariae per sporocyst within the gastropod but not in the within-host volume of parasites. Variation in host exploitation and life history appeared adaptive for transmission to the next host.     

Sequence of reconversion of the sporocysts of Schistosoma mansoni producing cercariae, to the production of new generations of sporocysts (author's transl)

During the life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni the production of sporocysts of a higher order than secondary is a normal mode of larval multiplication which intervenes in asexual reproduction of the parasite. The sequence of reconversion of sporocysts producing cercariae to those producing sporocysts III, IV, etc... can be divided into three principal steps: (1) cessation of cercariae production; (2) degeneration of cercariae contained in the sporocyst, and (3) production of the new generation of sporocysts. Degeneration of intrasporocystic larval material seems to be an indispensable step for the new orientation of production. The signifance of this method os multiplication in the ecology of transmission is discussed.     

青海高原牛羊双腔吸虫病病原生物学的初步调查

不文报道在青海高原对牛羊双腔吸虫病病原生物学初步调查的结果。从29个流行地区绵羊收集的标本检查结果,发现有四种双腔吸虫,它们是中华双腔吸虫(Dicrocoelium chinensis)、矛形双腔吸虫(D.lanceatum)、客双腔吸虫(D.hospes)和枝双腔吸虫(D.dendriticum)。从三个流行区检查Helicella candacharica及Cathaica przewalskii二种陆地蜗牛,查到四种双腔吸虫成熟尾蚴,它们是中华双腔吸虫、矛形双腔吸虫及二种未定名的双腔吸虫尾蚴,此二种尾蚴是何种双腔吸虫尾蚴,尚待进一步研究。检查流行区中7种蚂蚁是于9月份从乐都的Formica gagates查到双腔吸虫囊蚴,其形态与中华双腔吸虫囊蚴十分相像。     

The effect of light and darkness on the production of cercariae of Schistosoma haematobium from Bulinus globosus

The cercariae of Schistosoma haematobium showed a diurnal periodicity of emergence from Bulinus globosus in a twelve hour light/dark cycle. Peak emission occurred at 11.00 hrs with a smaller peak at 20.00 hrs, following the start of the period of darkness. In continuous illumination this second peak was not seen, indicating that only the morning peak is circadian in origin. The evening peak occurs in response to dark treatment and can be produced by periods of darkness ranging from eight seconds to one hour. The longer the period of dark treatment the longer the rise in output is maintained on return to light conditions. Subjection of snails to periods of dark treatment during the normal light period caused a reduction in the evening peak with the largest effect seen following the longest period of darkness. An increased output of cercariae was seen following fifteen minutes exposure to a range of light intensities, the largest increase occurring at 10,000 and 7000 lux and complete darkness. The rapidity of this reaction to variations in light intensity suggests that the cercariae of S. haematobium are showing emergence in response to shadows.     

Comparative analysis of the Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma bovis cercarial production under the influence of praziquantel

Snails infected with Schistosoma mansoni and S. bovis and fed with a food-Praziquantel mixture stop shedding cercariae for several days. The cercarial production restarts at different levels after stopping treatment: for some Biomphalaria glabrata, the restarting phase of production reaches a high level whereas for other B. glabrata and all of the P. metidjensis, the level of production remains low. Histological studies revealed that at the exact moment of this treatment, there is a total destruction of many nearly mature cercariae whereas the young cercarial embryos and the tegument of the sporocyst remain unharmed. When treatment stops, there is a pronounced proliferation of third-generation sporocysts (Sp III) which invade the available space of the snails' digestive gland.