More efficient allopatric combinations of Fasciola hepatica and Lymnaea truncatula due to modification of redial development?

Abstract.

Experimental infections of two susceptible French populations of Lymnaea truncatula (Courcelles and Saint Ours) with an allopatric (Fès, Morocco) or a semi-sympatric (Limoges, France) isolate of Fasciola hepatica miracidia were performed to determine the effect of allopatric miracidia on redial and cercarial production. In both populations, cercarial release was significantly greater in allopatric than in semi-sympatric snails. Compared to semi-sympatric snails, the examination of allopatric snails killed from day 14 to day 35 post-exposure demonstrated (1) a significant decrease after day 28 in the number of daughter rediae (R2a group) exiting from the first-appearing mother redia (R1a redia), and (2) the differentiation of numerous daughter rediae (R2b group) in the body of second-appearing mother rediae (R1b group). These experiments demonstrated that the exposure of L. truncatula to an allopatric isolate of miracidia disturbed the usual developmental pattern of redial generations and caused the formation of numerous R2b rediae. The authors hypothesized that the increase in cercarial release noted in allopatric snails would be assured by the rediae from the R2b group after their emergence from the body of R1b mother rediae.