scholarly journals Demographics of the semi-slug Parmarion martensi, an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hawai‘i, during laboratory rearing

Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Lindsey J. Hamilton ◽  
Yaeko Tagami ◽  
Lisa Kaluna ◽  
John Jacob ◽  
Susan I. Jarvi ◽  
...  

Abstract The semi-slug, Parmarion martensi, is an intermediate host of the zoonotic nematode, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the aetiological agent of neuroangiostrongyliasis or rat lungworm disease in humans. Rearing methods were developed for P. martensi to facilitate studies on nematode transmission and control. Parmarion martensi exhibited high survivorship when reared on a diet of dog food and fresh fruits and vegetables in temperature-controlled cabinets at 21.4°C, 98% relative humidity and 12:12 L:D cycle. Rearing containers were lined with moist paper towels for substrate and plastic pots were provided for hiding/resting and egg-laying. Under these conditions, time to first reproduction was 165.3 ± 12.3 days, fecundity was approximately 34.5 ± 7.8 eggs per adult, and hatch rate was 52.7 ± 3.2%. Survivorship post egg hatch was 86.2 ± 2.9% at 30 days (neonates had a mortality rate of about 14%) and 99% thereafter for up to a year. The demographics of laboratory-reared and wild-caught P. martensi were similar except for the weight of reproductive adults, which was significantly higher in laboratory-reared adults (4.0 ± 0.2 g) than in field-collected adults (1.5 ± 0.1 g).

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 755-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Alicata ◽  
Robert W. Brown

Infective larvae of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the causative agent of parasitic meningoencephalitis in man, have been found in about 4% of the stomach contents of freshwater prawns examined in Tahiti. This is believed to constitute the main source of the local human infection. These crustaceans and "taioro," a food consisting of grated coconut and prawn juice, are commonly eaten raw by Tahitians and some local Europeans. Infected mollusks have also been found on vegetation commonly eaten raw, and may constitute an occasional source of human infection. Laboratory-raised rats have been experimentally infected with A. cantonensis by applying infective larvae on the abraded skin. No infection occurred when the larvae were placed on the intact skin. In addition to land mollusks, the freshwater snail (Fossaria ollula) was also found to be a suitable intermediate host for A. cantonensis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vitta ◽  
W. Polsut ◽  
C. Fukruksa ◽  
T. Yimthin ◽  
A. Thanwisai ◽  
...  

AbstractAngiostrongylus cantonensis is primarily considered an emerging infectious agent of eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis with a worldwide distribution. Rodents and snails are important invasive hosts for transmission and expansion of A. cantonensis. The objective of this study was to investigate infection levels of A. cantonensis in snails, the most important natural intermediate host. Our study location was Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, Kamphaeng Phet Province, and was undertaken between October and December 2012. A total of 2228 freshwater and terrestrial snails were collected, comprising 1119 Filopaludina spp., 409 Pomacea caniculata, 275 Achatina fulica and 425 Cryptozona siamensis. Angiostrongylus larvae were isolated by artificial digestion methods following Baermann's techniques. A low prevalence and intensity of A. cantonensis were observed in A. fulica, while higher numbers were found in C. siamensis. None of the Filopaludina spp. and Pomacea caniculata were infected with A. cantonensis. Molecular characterization was performed by analysing the 264 bp of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Three COI sequences of Angiostrongylus were identical to A. cantonensis with 91–99% identity. Cryptozona siamensis has not previously been recorded as an intermediate host for A. cantonensis in Thailand. The infection of A. cantonensis identified in the natural intermediate hosts is new and important information to assist in the prevention and control of human angiostrongyliasis.


Nematology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Kirkegaard ◽  
Rod McLeod ◽  
Christopher Steel

AbstractInvasion, development and egg laying by Meloidogyne javanica in 11 Brassicaceae and four non-Brassicaceae crop species/subspecies was investigated. At 10 to15 and 15 to 20°C, fodder rape cv. Rangi was invaded less than the good hosts tomato cv. Grosse Lisse and field pea cv. Dun but more than the poor host oat cv. Cooba. With an inoculum of 50 second stage juveniles (J2), invasion of Rangi, and the intermediate host subterranean clover cv. Trikkala, were similarly invaded when inoculated with 50 and 100 J2, cv. Rangi was invaded less than tomato. The intermediate host subterranean clover cv. Trikkala and Rangi were similarly invaded when inoculated with 50 and 100 J2 but cv. Trikkala was less invaded with 200 J2. Oat cv. Cooba was always less invaded than the other hosts. Invasion of 3-week-old seedlings of cv. Rangi and 12 cultivars of seven other Brassicaceae crop species/subspecies were similar. Three weeks after inoculation, more M. javanica had developed to the mature female stage in tomato than in the eight Brassicaceae species/subspecies. Females growing in tomato and field pea were always larger than those in rape cv. Rangi. Females in Rangi were larger but those in oilseed radish cv. Adagio were smaller than in 11 other cultivars of seven Brassicaceae, except in plants grown in winter. Egg masses from four Brassicaceae species contained fewer eggs than egg masses from tomato at 6 weeks after inoculation, but at 7 and 8 weeks only those from fodder rape cv. Korina had consistently fewer than tomato. Results are discussed in relation to host status, glucosinolates and potential use of Brassicaceae for control of Meloidogyne.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayao Ohno ◽  
Morikatsu Yoshida ◽  
Takahiro Sato ◽  
Johji Kato ◽  
Mikiya Miyazato ◽  
...  

Peptide signaling controls many processes involving coordinated actions of multiple organs, such as hormone-mediated appetite regulation. However, the extent to which the mode of action of peptide signaling is conserved in different animals is largely unknown, because many peptides and receptors remain orphan and many undiscovered peptides still exist. Here, we identify two novel Caenorhabditis elegans neuropeptides, LURY-1-1 and LURY-1-2, as endogenous ligands for the neuropeptide receptor-22 (NPR-22). Both peptides derive from the same precursor that is orthologous to invertebrate luqin/arginine-tyrosine-NH2 (RYamide) proneuropeptides. LURY-1 peptides are secreted from two classes of pharyngeal neurons and control food-related processes: feeding, lifespan, egg-laying, and locomotory behavior. We propose that LURY-1 peptides transmit food signals to NPR-22 expressed in feeding pacemaker neurons and a serotonergic neuron. Our results identified a critical role for luqin-like RYamides in feeding-related processes and suggested that peptide-mediated negative feedback is important for satiety regulation in C. elegans.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euan R.O. Allan ◽  
Michael S. Blouin

Schistosomiasis is a detrimental neglected tropical disease that is transmitted by Planorbid snails. Understanding the transmission and control of this disease requires an extensive understanding of these intermediate hosts, which is only achieved by the effective rearing and study of species such asBiomphalaria glabrata. This species is the intermediate host forSchistosoma mansoniin the New World, and is also the main model for studying schistosomes in mollusks. Antibiotics are used routinely inB. glabratatissue culture, and occasionally on live snails. Here we show that standard doses of three common antibiotics (penicillin, streptomycin and gentamicin) drastically diminish the activity of healthyB. glabrata, but that treated snails recover rapidly when placed in fresh water. Ampicillin treated snails did not show altered activity. We suggest that researchers keep these apparent toxicities in mind if a need for antibiotic treatment of live Planorbid snails arises.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e94969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaynee R. Kim ◽  
Kenneth A. Hayes ◽  
Norine W. Yeung ◽  
Robert H. Cowie

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