Delayed tail loss during the invasion of human skin by schistosome cercariae.
Schistosomiasis is initiated when cercarial larvae invade human skin. Contrary to long-held assumptions, most cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni do not shed their propulsive tails as they penetrate. Scanning electron microscopy studies and infection experiments with entire human skin and differentiated, stratum corneum-like, human keratinocyte cultures, have shown that most cercarial tails enter the skin along with their bodies. We propose that this behaviour is an adaptive trait linked with concomitant immunity.
Whitfield
P J
PJ
School of Health and Life Sciences, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN. phil.whitfield@kcl.ac.uk
Bartlett
A
A
Khammo
N
N
Brain
A P R
AP
Brown
M B
MB
Marriott
C
C
Clothier
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000635:transmission; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013623:Tail / Q000648:ultrastructure