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Studies on the life-cycle of Himasthla militaris(Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. Vanoverschelde  and
F. Vaes
R. Vanoverschelde
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Zoophysiology, State University of Ghent, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
F. Vaes
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Zoophysiology, State University of Ghent, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Summary

In this study two aspects of the biology of the cercaria of Himasthla militaris were examined. Firstly, the cercarial emergence from the first intermediate host, Hydrobia stagnorum, was studied. On a 9 h light (9L)/15 h dark (15D) schedule cercariae of Himasthla militaris emerged from naturally infected Hydrobia stagnorum predominantly during darkness. Inversion of the photo-period resulted in an immediate reversal of the emergence pattern. A comparison between the cercarial release patterns under natural conditions and in a constant light/temperature environment showed that an endogenous as well as an exogenous factor is controlling this process. Secondly, the penetration of the cercaria in Nereis diversicolor and the site-finding of the larva within this second intermediate host was investigated. After a short external migration on the body of N. diversicolor the cercaria enters the polychaete via the anus opening, perforates the gut-wall and moves through the coelom to the anterior segments to encyst in the muscle tissue. This internal migration results in a specific distribution pattern of the metacercariae, with more than 50% of the cysts localized in the first 12 segments and a maximum in segment number 9 (13·8%).

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 81 , Issue 3 , December 1980 , pp. 609 - 617
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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