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Effect of copper and zinc upon the survival and infectivity of Echinoparyphium recurvatum cercariae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

N. A. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, King's College, University of London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS

Summary

At concentrations ranging from 0·1 to 10·0 mg/l, copper and zinc reduced both the longevity and infectivity of Echinoparyphium recurvatum cercariae. Concentrations of 10·0 mg/l copper and zinc in hard water reduced the time to 50% mortality of cercariae from 30·5 h to 8·5 h and 15·5 h respectively. Copper-induced effects upon cercarial infectivity were particularly severe and exposures of cercariae to 0·5 mg/l of this metal for as little as 15 min caused significant reductions in their ability to infect molluscan 2nd intermediate hosts. Water hardness had a marked influence on copper toxicity but had a much lower effect on the toxicity of zinc. Metal concentrations found to exert a profound influence on parasite transmission in the present laboratory-based study have been found to occur in natural, albeit polluted, freshwater habitats.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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