Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T00:00:05.810Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Host-finding capacity of schistosome cercariae: comparative efficiency of methods of mouse infection and a radioisotope assay system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Niels Ørnbjerg Christensen ,
Flemming Frandsen  and
Peter Nansen
Niels Ørnbjerg Christensen
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jagersborg Allé 1 D, DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
Flemming Frandsen
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jagersborg Allé 1 D, DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
Peter Nansen
Affiliation:
Parasitological Research Group, Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bülowsvej 13, DK-1870 Copenhagen V, Denmark
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The efficiency of five different methods of infection of mice with Schistosoma mansoni or S. intercalatum cercariae was compared; of these the ring method, the tail immersion technique, and the paddling method were found to be the most effective.

A new radioisotope assay system for cercarial host-finding capacity is described. This employs the tail immersion technique with radiolabelled S. mansoni cercariae. The amount of tail-bound radioactivity retained after exposure to radiolabelled cercariae was used to measure the host-finding capacity of the cercariae under various experimental conditions. A direct proportionality was found to exist between the number of penetrating radiolabelled cercariae and the subsequent tail-bound radioactivity. Also, a direct proportionality was demonstrated between the number of labelled larvae available in the suspension and the subsequent tail-bound radioactivity. The influence of light and of length of exposure period on cercarial host-finding was analysed. After an exposure period of 30 minutes the amount of radioactivity confined to tails in the light greatly exceeded that of tails exposed in total darkness. However, after 60 minutes comparable radioactivity levels were achieved in the tails exposed in the light or in total darkness, respectively. In the light, maximum tail-bound radioactivity was achieved after 20 minutes exposure and no further change was observed in the radioactivity level at 40 and 60 minutes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , June 1977 , pp. 105 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cram, E. B. and Bozicevich, J. (1944) Experimental S. mansoni infection by intraperitoneal injection. Tropical Medicine News, 1, 16–17.Google Scholar
DeWitt, W. B. (1965) Effects of temperature on penetration of mice by cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. American Journal of tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 14, 579–580.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, W. B., Liard, F., Ritchie, L. S., Pellegrino, J. and Chiriboga, J. (1968) Labelling of Biomphalaria glabrata and cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni with radioselenium. Experimental Parasitology, 22, 309–315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moore, D. V., Yolles, T. K. and Meleney, H. E. (1949) A comparison of common laboratory animals for Schistosoma mansoni. The Journal of Parasitology, 35, 156–170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nansen, P., Frandsen, F. and Christensen, N. ø. (1976) A study on snail location by Fasciola hepatica using radioisotopically labelled miracidia. Parasitology, 72, 163–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olivier, L. J. (1966) Infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. American Journal of tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 15, 882–885.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olivier, L. and Stirewalt, M. A. (1952) An efficient method for exposure of mice to cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. The Journal of Parasitology, 38, 19–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peters, P. A. and Warren, K. S. (1969) A rapid method of infecting mice and other laboratory animals with Schistosoma mansoni: subcutaneous injection. The Journal of Parasitology, 55, 558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Preston, J. M. and James, C. (1972) Infection of hamsters with terminal-spined schistosomes. Journal of Helminthology, 47, 291–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Purnell, R. E. (1966a) Host-parasite relationships in schistosomiasis. I. The effect of temperature on the infection of Biomphalaria sudanica tanganyicensis with Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and of laboratory mice with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Annals of tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 60, 90–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Purnell, R. E. (1966b) Host-parasite relationships in schistosomiasis. III. The effect of temperature on the survival of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and on the survival and infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Annals of tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 60, 182–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radke, M. G., Ritchie, L. S. and Rowan, W. B. (1961) Effects of water velocities on worm burdens of animals exposed to Schistosoma mansoni cercariae released under laboratory and field conditions. Experimental Parasitology, 11, 323–331.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smithers, S. R. and Terry, R. J. (1965) The infection of laboratory hosts with cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and the recovery of adult worms. Parasitology, 55, 695–700.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stirewalt, M. A. (1953) The influence of previous infection of mice with Schistosoma mansoni on a challenging infection with the homologous parasite. American Journal of tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2, 867–882.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stirewalt, M. A. and Fregeau, W. A. (1965) Effect of selected experimental conditions on penetration and maturation of Schistosoma mansoni in Mice. I. Environmental. Experimental Parasitology, 17, 168–179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stirewalt, M. A. and Fregeau, W. A. (1968) Effect of selected experimental conditions on penetration and maturation of Schistosoma mansoni in mice. II. Parasite-related conditions. Experimental Parasitology, 22, 73–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taylor, M. G. and Andrews, B. J. (1973) Comparision of the infectivity and pathogenicity of six species of African Schistosomes and their hybrids. I. Mice and Hamsters. Journal of Helminthology, 47, 439–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, M. G., Nelson, G. S., Smith, M. and Andrews, B. J. (1973) Comparison of the infectivity and pathogenicity of six species of African Schistosomes and their hybrids. II. Babo Helminthology, 47, 455–485.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, K. S. and Peters, P. A. (1967a) Quantitative aspects of exposure time and cercaria dispersion on penetration and maturation of Schistosoma mansoni in mice. Annals of tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 61, 294–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, K. S. and Peters, P. A. (1967b) Comparison of penetration and maturation of Schistosoma mansoni in the hamster, mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, and rat. American Journal of tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 16, 718–722.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, K. S. and Peters, P. A. (1968) Cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and plants: attempt to penetrate Phaseolus vulgaris and Hedychium coronarium produces a cercaricide. Nature; London, 217, 647–648.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webbe, G. (1966) The effect of water velocities on the infection of animals exposed to Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Annals of tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 60, 78–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webbe, G. and James, C. (1971) The importation and maintenance of schistosomes of human and veterinary importance. In Symposia of the British Society for Parasitology Vol. 9 (eds Taylor, A. E. R. and Muller, R.). Blackwell: Oxford. pp. 77–107.Google Scholar