Article contents
Reduced infectivity in Himasthla elongata (Trematoda, Himasthlidae) cercariae with deviant photoreaction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2020
Abstract
Digenean larvae of hermaphroditic generation – cercariae – are known to be polymorphic at genetic and behavioural levels. Cercariae arise as a result of parthenogenetic reproduction of intramolluscan stages, and represent a clone if a snail was infected with a single miracidium. Here we investigated cercarial clones of Himasthla elongata – namely, the infectivity of cercariae with normal (negative) and deviant (positive) photoreaction. In our study, most H. elongata clones showed intraclonal variance in their response to light. The proportion of photopositive cercariae ranged between 0.2% and 60% in different H. elongata clones. Photopositive larvae demonstrated significantly reduced rates of encystment in Mytilus edulis haemolymph in vitro and in young mussels. We discuss the possible mechanisms behind intraclonal variations, such as non-specific genomic rearrangements.
- Type
- Short Communication
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press
References
- 2
- Cited by