Summary
In vitro studies indicate that the daughter sporocysts of Cercaria linearis and Cercaria stunkardi are able to degrade exogenous glycogen to maltose and then to glucose. The sporocysts are also able to break down the disaccharide sucrose to glucose and fructose. The digestion appears to be due to the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes via the tegument of the sporocysts. The activity of the hydrolytic enzymes increases with temperature being greater at 10 and 15° C than at 5° C. Monosaccharides resulting from the activity of the hydrolases are absorbed and utilized by the parasites.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes, J.: In: Biological laboratory data (ed. L. J. Hale). London: Methuen & Co. 1965
Becker, W.: Untersuchungen über die aus der Muttersporocyste auswandernden Tochtersporocyten von Schistosoma mansoni. I. Beiträge zum Kohlenhydratstoffwechsel dieser Stadien. Z. Parasitenk. 30, 233–251 (1968)
Cheng, T. C.: Marine molluscs at hosts for symbioses: with a review of known parasites of commercially important species. Advances in marine biology, vol. 5, p. 424. London-New York: Academic Press 1967
Cheng, T. C., Snyder, R. W.: Studies on host parasite relationships between larval trematodes and their hosts. 1. A review. 11. The utilisation of the host's glycogen by the intramolluscan stages of Glypthelmins pennsylvaniensis. Cheng and related phenomena. Trans. Amer. micr. Soc. 81, 209–228 (1962)
Crothers, J. H.: Dale fort marine fauna (2nd ed.). London: Field Studies Council 1966
James, B. L.: The effects of parasitism by larval Digenea on the digestive gland of the intertidal prosobranch Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) subspecies tenebrosa (Montagu). Parasitology 53, 79–86 (1965)
James, B. L., Bowers, E. A.: The effects of parasitism by the daughter sporocysts of Cercaria bucephalopsis haimena Lacaze-Duthiers on the digestive tubules of the cockle Cardium edule L. Parasitology 57, 67–77 (1967a)
James, B. L., Bowers, E. A.: Histochemical observations on the occurrence of carbohydrates, lipids and enzymes in the daughter sporocysts of Cercaria bucephalopsis haimena Lacaze-Duthiers. Parasitology 57, 79–86 (1967b)
James, M.: The ultrastructure and histochemistry of Digenea from littoral molluscs. Ph.D. Thesis. University College, Swansea (1973)
Lespés, Ch.: Observations sur quelques cercaires parasites de Molluscs marins. Ann. Sci. nat. 7, 113–117 (1857)
Palombi, A.: Gli stadi larvali dei Trematodi del Golfo di Napoli. Contributo allo studio della morfologia, biologica e sistematica delle cercarie marine (Il grupo delle cercarie cotilocerche). Revist. Parassitol. 2 (3), 189–206 (1938)
Pascoe, D.: Studies on the metabolism of Digenea from sea birds and molluscs. Ph.D. Thesis, University College, Swansea 1968
Pascoe, D.: Dehydrogenases in the daughter sporocysts of Microphallus pygmaeus (Levinsen, 1881) (Trematoda: Microphallidae). Z. Parasitenk. 35, 7–15 (1970)
Smith, I.: Chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques, vol. 1. Chromatography. London: Heinemann 1960
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thomas, J.S., Pascoe, D. The digestion of exogenous carbohydrate by the daughter sporocysts of Cercaria linearis lespés, 1857 and Cercaria stunkardi palombi, 1938, in vitro . Z. Parasitenk. 43, 17–23 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329533
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329533