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Trichobilharzia ocellata: influence of infection on the fecundity of its intermediate snail host Lymnaea stagnalis and cercarial induction of the release of schistosomin, a snail neuropeptide antagonizing female gonadotropic hormones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

H. D. F. H. Schallig ,
M. J. M. Sassen ,
P. L. Hordijk  and
M. De Jong-Brink
H. D. F. H. Schallig
Affiliation:
Faculty of Biology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. J. M. Sassen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Biology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
P. L. Hordijk
Affiliation:
Faculty of Biology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. De Jong-Brink
Affiliation:
Faculty of Biology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Summary

Subadult and adult specimens of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis were infected with the schistosome Trichobilharzia ocellata. Egg production and growth of the snails were monitored over an 8-week period post-infection (p.i.). Snail haemolymph was collected and analysed for the presence of schistosomin, a neuropeptide which antagonizes the action of the snails' female gonadotropic hormones. Snails infected as subadults showed an increase in fecundity during the first 4 weeks p.i. compared with non-infected controls. The possibility is discussed that this increase is caused by an accelerated maturation of the female sex organs due to elevated levels of Dorsal Body Hormone, a female gonadotropic hormone. No difference in fecundity was found between snails infected as adults and control snails during the first 4 weeks p.i. Snails infected as subadults and as adults showed a decrease in fecundity from week 5 p.i. and onwards. This decrease coincided with the appearance of schistosomin in the haemolymph of the snails and with that of differentiating cercariae in the daughter sporocysts. Cercariae are probably involved in the induction of schistosomin release from the snails' CNS into the haemolymph. Snails infected as subadults or as adults grew at approximately the same rate as uninfected snails.

Keywords

Trichobilharzia ocellataLymnaea stagnalisneuroendocrine interactionsschistosominfecundity
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 102 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 85 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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