Studies on the life-cycle of Himasthla militaris (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)
In: Parasitology. Cambridge University Press: London. ISSN 0031-1820; e-ISSN 1469-8161, more
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| Abstract |
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%). |
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