Studies on resistance in snails: Specific resistance induced by irradiated miracidia of Echinostoma lindoense in Biomphalaria glabrata snails

In juvenile Biomphalaria glabrata snails exposed to irradiated Echinostoma lindoense miracidia, the sporocysts migrated to the heart at the same speed as did nonirradiated sporocysts in control snails. However, in each snail so exposed to irradiated miracidia, amebocyte clumps in the snail's heart destroyed the sporocysts within 2–9 days post-exposure. This process induced a strong, highly specific resistance to homologous reinfection in these previously susceptible snails. The snails remained susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni and Paryphostomum segregatum (Echinostomatidae), but were partially resistant to Echinostoma paraensei and E. liei, two echinostome species closely related to E. lindoense.