Cercarial tail loss in Echinostoma caproni: the influence of in vivo encystment and copper sulphate

• Published in: Journal of helminthology Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 177 - 178
• Main Authors: Fried, B., Schneck, J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomphalaria - parasitology; Copper Sulfate - toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Echinostoma - drug effects; Echinostoma - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Vitro Techniques; Invertebrates; Life Cycle Stages; Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha; Physiology. Development; Tail - drug effects; Pesticides; Echinostoma caproni; Loss; Plathelmintha; Parasite; Fungicide; Trematoda; Inorganic compound; Cercaria; In vivo; Encystment; Tail; Helmintha; Invertebrata; Copper sulfate
• ISSN: 0022-149X; 1475-2697
• DOI: 10.1079/JOH2005278

Echinostoma caproni tail loss was studied in vitro in the presence of the toxicant copper sulphate (CuSO4) in concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 000 mg l?1 in standardized artificial spring water (pH 7.4, osmolarity 34 mOsm kg?1 H2O, Ca2+ 20 mg l?1) at 23°C. Tail loss was also studied in the absence of toxicants during in vivo encystment of the cercariae in juvenile Biomphalaria glabrata. As the concentration of CuSO4 increased, the percentage of cercarial tail loss increased. By 2 h in 10 000 mg l?1, 1000 mg l?1 and 100 mg l?1 CuSO4, 50%, 23% and 13%, respectively, of the cercariae had lost their tails. In the in vivo studies, by 1 h PI, 59±5% of cercariae had lost their tails and only 4±1% of the cercariae were actively swimming in the multi-well dishes. At 3 h PI, 72±3% of the cercariae began to form cysts within the snails.