title: Biological implications of the phenotypic plasticity in the Schistosoma mansoni-Nectomys squamipes model.
abstract: The water-rat Nectomys squamipes is mostly important non-human host in schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Brazil, due to its susceptibility, high abundance and water-contact pattern. During experimental infection of N. squamipes with Schistosoma mansoni, adult worms show phenotypic plasticity. This finding led us to investigate whether biological behavior is also affected. This was assessed comparing the biological characteristics of four S. mansoni strains: BE (State of Belém do Pará), CE (State of Pernambuco), CMO (State of Rio Grande do Norte) and SJ (State of São Paulo) using laboratory-bred N. squamipes. The infection was monitored by determination of the pre-patent period, fecal egg output, egg viability, intestinal egg count and, infectivity rate. No biological modification was observed in these parameters. Overall results highlight that N. squamipes was susceptible to several S. mansoni strains, suggesting that it might contribute to the maintenance of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia Romero Lascasas Porto, Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Uerj, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Elaine Machado
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-Silva
authors.forename: Renata Heisler
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Regina Maria Figueiredo de
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Machado-Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D009115:Muridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000469:parasitology*; D013997:Time Factors