title: Physiological alterations in Bradybaena similaris (Stylommatophora: Bradybaenidae) induced by the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) strain LPP1.
abstract: Heterorhabditis is a nematode found in the soil that is used as an important biological control agent against various organisms. However, few studies have been performed of its use against snails and the present study is the first to investigate the effect of experimental exposure of Bradybaena similaris to Heterorhabditis indica LPP1. Two groups of 16 snails were formed: the control group (not exposed) and the treatment, which was exposed for three weeks to infective juveniles (J3) of H. indica LPP1. The entire experiment was conducted in duplicate, using a total of 64 snails. After this period, the snails were dissected to collect the hemolymph to evaluate the possible physiological alterations, namely total proteins, uric acid and hemolymph urea, as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as a result of the infection. The terrariums were analyzed on alternate days throughout the experiment to count the dead snails. Intense proteolysis was observed in the infected snails. An increase in the level of uric acid and reduction of the hemolymph urea content indicated that the infection by H. indica results in the inversion of the excretion pattern of the host snail. Variations in the aminotransferase activities were also observed, with the infected group presenting significantly higher values (p<0.05) than the control group for both ALT and AST. The exposure to H. indica LPP1 caused 55% mortality, with the highest rate observed in the first week after exposure (30%). These results suggest that the use of H. indica LPP1 is a feasible alternative for the biological control of B. similaris.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Docente do curso de Medicina Veterinária da Faculdade de Castelo (FACASTELO), Av. Nicanor Marques s/n, Castelo, ES 29360-000, Brazil. Electronic address: victortunholi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Victor Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caio Oliveira
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cristina da Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia de Melo
authors.initials: Cde M
authors.lastname: Dolinski
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: José dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria de Lurdes de Azevedo
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: vinnytunholi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Vinícius Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi-Alves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D009036:Moths / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017172:Rhabditoidea / Q000502:physiology*; D012908:Snails / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D000637:Transaminases / Q000032:analysis; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D000637:Transaminases
keywords: Biological control; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Parasite–host interaction