Spatial distribution patterns of the sporocyst infrapopulation of Schistosoma mansoni within its mollusc host (Biomphalaria glabrata): an unusual phenotype of aggregation.
A study carried out on the intramolluscan development of the larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni from Venezuela in its intermediate host Biomphalaria glabrata shows the existence of 2 patterns for the spatial distribution of daughter sporocysts within the digestive gland of the snail. Besides the normal pattern, which is a random distribution of daughter sporocysts within the gland, 11% of the infected snails harbored an infection phenotype with daughter sporocysts strongly aggregated in only the posterior half of the digestive gland. These data suggest a possible strategy allowing a better nutritional efficiency of the infected digestive gland, a process to block the supply of hemolymph toward the gonad, resulting in castration or both.
Gérard
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Laboratoire de Biologie Animale, URA no. 698 CNRS, Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie tropicale et méditerranéenne, Université, Perpignan, France.
Balzan
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C
Théron
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A
D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*