title: Biochemical profile of Achatina fulica (Mollusca: Gastropoda) after infection by different parasitic loads of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Metastrongylidae).
abstract: The effect of experimental infection by different parasitic loads of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematode, Metastrongylidae) on the activities of the aminotransferases and concentration of total proteins, uric acid and urea in the hemolymph of Achatina fulica (Mollusca, Gastropoda) were investigated. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of total proteins in the exposed snails to 5000 or more larvae. This change was accompanied by an increase in the concentrations of urea and uric acid in the hemolymph, suggesting a higher rate of deamination of the amino acids. Besides this, variations in the activities of the aminotransferases were also observed, with the highest values recorded in the groups exposed to greater parasite load. These results suggest an increase in the use of total proteins, since there was increased formation of nitrogenous catabolites, in conformity with an increase in the aminotransferase activities. Infection was verified by the fact that L3 larvae recovered from the snails was proportion to the exposure dose of L1 larvae. Histopathological results also indicated presence of an inflammatory cell infiltrate, favoring an increase of both transaminases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, 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
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: victortunholi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Victor Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fiocruz, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ludimila Santos
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brazil 4365, CEP 21040-30 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Esther Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado Júnior
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil; Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km7, BR 465, Antiga estrada Rio-São Paulo, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juberlan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D000637:Transaminases
keywords: Achatina fulica; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Biochemical changes; Histopathological changes; Host–parasite relationship