Lymnaea fuscus (Pfeiffer, 1821) as a potential intermediate host of Fascioloides magna in Europe.
Experimental infections of two different populations of Lymnaea fuscus in France and Sweden, with a Czech isolate of Fascioloides magna were carried out to determine if this lymnaeid species enables parasite larval development. Species identification of both snail populations was performed using the morphology of the copulatory organ, and also confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of the snail genomic rDNA. Only juvenile snails measuring less than 3mm (1-3 weeks of age) were successfully infected (the viable cercariae were recorded) and infection prevalence decreased with age, as documented by increased shell height. In both French and Swedish L. fuscus populations, prevalence ranged between 1.1% and 58.8%. The mean number of metacercariae obtained from cercariae-shedding snails was 13.7 (±11.4), while the total cercarial production noted in snails dissected at day 85 post-exposure was 147.5 (±56.6). Compared to uninfected control snails, we observed reduced growth of infected snails. Despite age-related resistance of snail to the parasite, and limited cercarial production in these experimentally infected snails, F. magna was still able to complete larval development in L. fuscus.
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden. anovobilsky@yahoo.com
Adam
A
Novobilský
Martin
M
Kašný
Jan
J
Pankrác
Daniel
D
Rondelaud
Annie
A
Engström
Johan
J
Höglund
D000818:Animals; D058487:Cercaria / Q000254:growth & development; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology*; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D005060:Europe; D005212:Fasciolidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal