title: Schistosoma mansoni: the presence of schistosomule-like characteristics in irradiated cercariae.
abstract: Schistosoma mansoni (Puerto Rican strain) cercariae were exposed to 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 krad gamma radiation from 60Co gamma source. From 10-100 krad irradiation no differences could be found in the behaviour of the cercariae when compared to the controls. From 200-500 krad there was an increase in mortality as well as in the number of cercariae that shed their tails. The Con A binding studies also performed on cercariae radiated with up to 100 krad indicate a direct relationship between the number of cercariae that bind Con A and radiation dose. All live cercarial heads collected after radiation also bound Con A. It thus seems possible that irradiation may act as a stimulus for cercariae to transform to schistosomulae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yssel
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wolmarans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D051379:Mice; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A