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The influence of adult worm age and definitive host on the transmission of Echinostoma caproni: egg hatchability and miracidial infectivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2012

C. Muñoz-Antoli*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100Burjassot-Valencia, Spain
R. Toledo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100Burjassot-Valencia, Spain
J.G. Esteban
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100Burjassot-Valencia, Spain
*
* Fax: (34) 963544769, E-mail: carla.munoz@uv.es

Abstract

We analysed the influence of different ages of Echinostoma caproni adult worms reared in different definitive host-species on egg hatchability and miracidial infectivity. Eggs obtained from 2-, 4- and 6-week-old adult worms collected from rats, hamsters and mice, hatched miracidia that were used to infect laboratory-reared specimens of Biomphalaria glabrata. Highest egg hatchability was obtained with eggs derived from hamsters and mice. Egg hatchability did not seem to be affected by the age of E. caproni adult worms. Miracidial infectivity was not affected by the definitive host species. However, miracidial infectivity was affected by the age of adult worms when they developed in the mice intestine. The long period of miracidial infectivity in hamsters revealed this definitive host as the most suitable for experimental development of the life cycle and parasite transmission.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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