title: Changes in the reproductive biology of Biomphalara glabrata infected with different doses of Echinostoma paraensei miracidia.
abstract: The egg-laying rate, number of egg masses, number of eggs/mass, number of eggs hatched/snail and egg viability of Biomphalaria glabrata exposed to different doses (5 and 50) of Echinostoma paraensei miracidia were analyzed as indicators of reproductive activity. Polystyrene plates were placed in aquariums containing the snails and every other day for four weeks after infection the plates were removed to count the number of egg masses and eggs laid. After this, the plates were numbered individually and placed in new aquariums free of snails and the egg masses were observed daily to determine the hatching rate. On average there was an increase in the parameters evaluated in the infected snails in relation to the controls (uninfected snails), except for egg viability, which was significantly lower in the groups infected with 50 miracidia. These findings indicate that when infected, this host snail is able to increase its reproductive activity, suggesting an ecological strategy to maintain the species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, UFRuralRJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lustrino
authors.forename: Vinícius Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi-Alves
authors.forename: Clélia Christina Corrêa
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: de Mello-Silva
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Maria de Lurdes de Azevedo
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004449:Echinostoma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology