These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Development of Trichobilharzia ocellata in Lymnaea stagnalis and the effects of infection on the reproductive system of the host.
    Author: Sluiters JF.
    Journal: Z Parasitenkd; 1981; 64(3):303-19. PubMed ID: 7194549.
    Abstract:
    Juvenile specimens of Lymnaea stagnalis were exposed to 0 or 4 miracidia of Trichobilharzia ocellata. Highly productive infections developed in all infected snails. Qualitative and/or quantitative light microscopic observations were performed at various intervals between day 0 and 83 post exposure (p.e.). Gonadal maturation started between day 4 and 7 p.e. in all snails, but in infected animals gonadal growth was retarded considerably after day 7 and was blocked from day 19 onwards. This resulted in very small gonads (10% of the volumes of those of controls on day 83 p.e.) in infected snails, in which however, gametogenesis was initially normal. Due to the small gonad volume gamete production was highly reduced. From day 33 onwards spermatogenesis appeared to be inhibited and around day 83 oocyte maturation seemed to be impaired. The accessory sex organs (ASO) of infected snails showed a similar reduced growth. The cellular differentiation and production of secretory granules in these small ASO was normal albeit delayed in both the male and female organs. The severe reduction in growth of the gonad and the ASO started in the presence of immature primary sporocysts, the later effects on gametogenesis were simultaneous with the production of massive numbers of cercariae. These results are discussed in view of the available data on the endocrine control or reproduction in L. stagnalis. It is suggested that either the secretion of gonadotrophic hormones or the response of their targets is reduced by humoral effects of the parasites.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]