In this comparative behavioral study, the effect of infection with Schistosoma mansoni on its snail intermediate host Biomphalaria glabrata was investigated. Three groups of snails were compared for their activity: (1) uninfected, (2) infected with male parasites, and (3) infected with female parasites. In solitary movement trials, uninfected snails traveled greater distances at faster rates, explored more surface area, and had shorter rest periods than snails infected with either male or female schistosomes. In Y-maze experiments designed to determine attraction, the uninfected snails more often and more quickly moved toward other snails than the infected individuals. Snails from all 3 groups were more attracted to infected individuals than to uninfected ones. There was no difference in attraction toward snails infected with male or female parasites. These experiments provide evidence that behavioral alterations as a result of infection may lead to aggregation of infected snails in the field. We propose that such an effect may result in enhanced parasite transmission.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
June 2003
Research Article|
June 01 2003
ALTERED BEHAVIOR OF THE SNAIL BIOMPHALARIA GLABRATA AS A RESULT OF INFECTION WITH SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI
Jérôme Boissier;
Jérôme Boissier
Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie Tropicale et Méditerranéenne, UMR 5555 CNRS-UP, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France. mone@univ-perp.fr
Search for other works by this author on:
Ezequiel R. Rivera;
Ezequiel R. Rivera
Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie Tropicale et Méditerranéenne, UMR 5555 CNRS-UP, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France. mone@univ-perp.fr
* Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts–Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Search for other works by this author on:
Hélène Moné
Hélène Moné
Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie Tropicale et Méditerranéenne, UMR 5555 CNRS-UP, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France. mone@univ-perp.fr
† To whom correspondence should be addressed
Search for other works by this author on:
J Parasitol (2003) 89 (3): 429–433.
Citation
Jérôme Boissier, Ezequiel R. Rivera, Hélène Moné; ALTERED BEHAVIOR OF THE SNAIL BIOMPHALARIA GLABRATA AS A RESULT OF INFECTION WITH SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI. J Parasitol 1 June 2003; 89 (3): 429–433. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0429:ABOTSB]2.0.CO;2
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
CERCARIAL LONGEVITY AND INFECTIVITY OF BOLBOPHORUS DAMNIFICUS, WITH NOTES ON METACERCARIAL PERSISTENCE AND SITE SPECIFICITY IN CHANNEL AND HYBRID CATFISH
Mackenzie A. Gunn, Peter J. Allen, T. Graham Rosser, David J. Wise, Matt J. Griffin
DETECTION OF SPLENDIDOFILARIA SP. (ONCHOCERCIDAE:SPLENDIDOFILARIINAE) MICROFILARIA WITHIN ALASKAN GROUND-DWELLING BIRDS IN THE GROUSE SUBFAMILY TETRAONINAE USING TAQMAN PROBE-BASED REAL-TIME PCR
Stephen E. Greiman, Robert E. Wilson, Briana Sesmundo, Jack Reakoff, Sarah A. Sonsthagen
OCCURRENCE OF EUSTRONGYLIDES EXCISUS (NEMATODA:DIOCTOPHYMATIDAE) IN EUROPEAN PERCH (PERCA FLUVIATILIS) AND GREAT CORMORANT (PHALACROCORAX CARBO) IN LAKE ANNONE, NORTHERN ITALY
Aurora Rusconi, Paola Prati, Roldano Bragoni, Michele Castelli, Umberto Postiglione, Sara Rigamonti, Davide Sassera, Emanuela Olivieri
REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF PARASITIC NEMATODE EXCRETORY/SECRETORY PROTEINS IN HOST IMMUNOMODULATION
Ogadinma K. Okakpu, Adler R. Dillman
REVIEW OF DIOCTOPHYME RENALE: ETIOLOGY, MORPHOLOGY, BIOLOGY, ECOEPIDEMIOLOGY, PATHOGENESIS, SYMPTOMATOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION
Zully Hernández Russo, Jorge Cárdenas Callirgos, Alberto García-Ayachi, Eric J. Wetzel