Abstract
Growth, egg laying rate, and mortality ofBiomphalaria glabrata (Portorican strain), maintained in groups of two, after exposure at different ages (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks) to three miracidia each ofSchistosoma mansoni (Liberian strain) were determined. The findings in infected snails were compared with those in exposed but uninfected (negative) and in unexposed snails. Younger snails were infected at higher rates, and these showed a significantly increased mortality. Young infected snails grew much slower than negative or unexposed snails; older infected snails grew at about the same rate as negative or control snails. A growth acceleration was not observed in parasitized animals. When prepatency to a high extent passed before sexual maturity, infected snails did not lay any eggs. In later infections the numbers of eggs dropped below those in healthy snails by the second week after exposure. Snails were dissected 15 weeks after exposure. Development of male reproductive organs (prostate gland, preputium plus penis sheath), in relation to shell diameter, was retarded particularly in animals infected before sexual maturity and highly retarded in growth. In larger animals the organs reached approximately their definitive size. Parasitized snails were partially deformed by an enlargement of their shell apertures on the right side.
Zusammenfassung
Nach Exposition gegenüber 3 Miracidien vonSchistosoma mansoni (Liberianischer Stamm) in verschiedenem Alter (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 Wochen) wurden an zu zweit gehaltenen Schnecken vonBiomphalaria glabrata (Portorico-Stamm) Wachstum, Eiablage und Mortalität bestimmt. Die Befunde an infizierten Schnecken wurden mit denen negativ gebliebener und nicht exponierter Schnecken verglichen. Jüngere Schnecken ließen sich in höherem Maße infizieren, starben aber auch signifikant mehr als negative oder unexponierte; älter infizierte unterschieden sich kaum von den Kontrollen oder negativen. Wachstumsacceleration parasitierter Tiere wurde nicht beobachtet. Lag die Präpatenz überwiegend vor Eintritt der Geschlechtsreife, so legten die infizierten Schnecken keine Eier ab. Bei späteren Infektionen sank die Zahl der abgelegten Eier schon ab der 2. Woche nach Infektion unter die der gesunden Tiere. 15 Wochen nach der Infektion wurden die Tiere seziert. Eine verzögerte Entwicklung männlicher Geschlechtsorgane (Prostata, Präputium mit Penisscheide), bezogen auf den Gehäusedurchmesser, wurde vor allem bei Tieren gefunden, die vor der Geschlechtsreife infiziert worden waren. Bei größeren Tieren erreichten die Organe annähernd die normale Endgröße. Bei einem Teil der parasitierten Tiere verformte sich das Gehäuse durch Mündungserweiterung an der rechten Seite.
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Meier, M., Meier-Brook, C. Schistosoma mansoni: Effect on growth, fertility, and development of distal male organs inBiomphalaria glabrata exposed to miracidia at different ages. Z. Parasitenkd. 66, 121–131 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00925719
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00925719