Abstract
Two experiments using seven populations of Galba truncatula were carried out to analyse the effect of food quality (cos lettuce only, or cos lettuce+Tetraphyll) on the characteristics of infections: (1) in a single population of G. truncatula infected by one of three digenea (first experiment), and (2) in seven populations of G. truncatula differing in their susceptibility to Fasciola hepatica miracidia (second experiment). In most groups, food quality did not have a significant effect on the survival of snails. The prevalence of infection in five populations was significantly higher in snails raised on lettuce+Tetraphyll (first and second experiments), whereas it was close to those noted in lettuce only-reared groups in the last two populations (second experiment). Despite the higher growth of cercariae-shedding snails when raised on the mixed diet, no significant differences were noted. Significant effects of parasite species (first experiment) and of snail population (second experiment) on the life-spans of cercariae-shedding snails were noted, whereas food quality did not influence this parameter. Except for a single snail population, cercarial production in groups raised on lettuce+Tetraphyll was significantly higher than that in groups on lettuce. The variability noted in the prevalence of snail infections and in the intensity of cercarial shedding might be explained by differences in the susceptibility of snail populations to F. hepatica infections, and/or by the fact that Tetraphyll would not have the same appetency for all populations of G. truncatula.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrous M, Roumieux L, Dreyfuss G, Rondelaud D, Mage C (1998) Proposition d’une technique simple pour la production métacercarienne de Fasciola hepatica Linné à partir du mollusque Lymnaea truncatula Müller. Rev Med Vet (Toul) 149:943–948
Abrous M, Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (1999) Influence of low temperatures on the cercarial shedding of Paramphistomum daubneyi from the snail Lymnaea truncatula. Parasite 6:85–88
Boray JC (1969) Experimental fascioliasis in Australia. Adv Parasitol 7:95–210
Ismail NM, Haroun NH (2001) Effect of various foods on Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus and their susceptibility to schistosome miracidia. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 31:939–952
Keas BE, Esch GW (1997) The effect of diet and reproductive maturity on the growth and reproduction of Helisoma anceps (Pulmonata) infected by Halipegus occidualis (Trematoda). J Parasitol 83:96–104
Kendall SB (1949) Nutritional factors affecting the rate of development of Fasciola hepatica in Limnaea truncatula. J Helminthol 23:179–190
Lee CG, Cho SH, Lee CY (1995) Metacercarial production of Lymnaea viridis experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica. Vet Parasitol 58:313–318
Rondelaud D (1993) Variabilité interpopulationnelle de l’infestation fasciolienne chez le mollusque Lymnaea truncatula Müller. Influence du contact préalable de la population avec le parasite. Bull Soc Zool Fr 118:185–193
Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (1997) Variability of Fasciola infection in Lymnaea truncatula as a function of snail generation and snail activity. J Helminthol 71:161–166
Rondelaud D, Abrous M, Dreyfuss G (2002) The influence of different food sources on cercarial production in Lymnaea truncatula experimentally infected with Digenea. Vet Res 33:95–100
Stat-Itcf (1988) Manuel d’utilisation. Institut technique des céréales et des fourrages, Service des etudes statistiques, Boigneville
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rondelaud, D., Denève, C., Belfaiza, M. et al. Variability in the prevalence of infection and cercarial production in Galba truncatula raised on a high-quality diet. Parasitol Res 92, 242–245 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-1025-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-1025-0