Echinostomes as experimental models for interactions between adult parasites and vertebrate hosts.
Echinostomes are intestinal trematodes that, for years, have served as experimental models in different areas of parasitology. However, the usefulness of these trematodes in experimental parasitology has been underappreciated. In this article, we examine the characteristics that make echinostomes useful models for analysis of the interactions between adult parasites and vertebrate hosts, particularly in relation to the host-related factors that determine the establishment of the parasites.
Toledo
Rafael
R
Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avenida Vicente Andrés Estellés, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. rafael.toledo@uv.es
Fried
Bernard
B
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004449:Echinostoma / Q000502:physiology*; D004451:Echinostomiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000469:parasitology*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D015047:Zoonoses