Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nr4z6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T18:06:43.780Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Schistosoma mansoni: the activity and development of the schistosomulum during migration from the skin to the hepatic portal system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. A. Wilson ,
Tove Draskau ,
Patricia Miller  and
J. Ruth Lawson
R. A. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD
Tove Draskau
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD
Patricia Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD
J. Ruth Lawson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The activity patterns and changes in shape of schistosomula recovered from various locations during migration, are described. There is no significant increase in length during the period which worms remain in the skin. Rhythmic cycles of extension and contraction of the worm body are established soon after penetration. Worms newly arrived at the lungs are identical with skin worms of the same age. Within the lungs their maximum length increases to four times that of skin worms, an adaptation which is believed to facilitate migration through the lumina of blood capillaries. Worms recovered from the lungs and systemic organs on, and subsequent to, day 8 post-infection retain this capacity for elongation. When worms arrive at the hepatic portal system they undergo a process of shortening and there is a transient doubling in the duration of cycles of activity. It is suggested that this shape and activity change terminates migration by preventing escape of worms from the hepatic portal system via the liver sinuses. The stimulus which triggers the response is thought to be the high nutrient levels present in hepatic portal blood, but not in peripheral blood. The stimulus which terminates migration also probably initiates growth. Worms cultured in vitro undergo some increase in length, but have a significantly lower maximum length than lung worms of a corresponding age. Although cultured worms were active, the cycles of extension and contraction were much more erratic than those of in vivo worms. The worms shortened spontaneously after 8–10 days in culture. This shortening occurred marginally later than in the most rapidly migrating worms in vivo.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , August 1978 , pp. 57 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFEBENCES

Bogitsh, B. J. & Carter, O. S. (1977). Developmental studies on the digestive tract of schistosomules (Schistosoma mansoni) grown in vitro. 1. Ultrastructure. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 96, 219–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clegg, J. A. (1965). In vitro cultivation of Schistosoma mansoni. Experimental Parasitology 16, 133–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clegg, J. A. & Smithers, S. R. (1972). The effects of immune rhesus monkey serum on schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni during cultivation in vitro. International Journal for Parasitology 2, 79–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faust, E., Jones, C. & Hoffman, W. (1934). Studies on schistosomiasis in Puerto Rico. 2. Mammalian phase of the life cycle. Puerto Rico Journal of Public Health and Tropical Medicine 10, 133–96.Google Scholar
Hockley, D. J. & McLaren, D. J. (1973). Schistosoma mamsoni changes in the outer membrane of the tegument during development from cercaria to adult worm. International Journal for Parasitology 3, 13–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenkins, G. M. & Watts, D. G. (1968). Spectral Analysis and its Applications. San Francisco: Holden-Day.Google Scholar
Lennox, R. N. & Schiller, E. L. (1972). Changes in dry weight and glycogen content as criteria for measuring the post cercarial growth and development of Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Parasitology 58, 489–94.Google Scholar
Miller, P. (1976). Migration of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, and its subsequent development in the mammalian host. D.Phil. thesis, University of York.Google Scholar
Nuttman, C. J. (1975). The structure and behaviour of the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni. D.Phil. thesis, University of York.Google Scholar
Smith, M., Clegg, J. A. & Webbe, G. (1976). Culture of Schistosoma haematobium in vivo and in vitro. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 70, 101–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smithers, S. R. & Terry, R. J. (1965). The infection of laboratory hosts with cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and recovery of the adult worms. Parasitology 55, 695–700.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Standen, O. D. (1971). Drug activity against trematodes. Journal of Parasitology 57, Section II, 108–15.Google ScholarPubMed
Stirewalt, M. A. (1974). Schistosoma mansoni: cercaria to schistosomule. Advances in Parasitology 12, 115–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webster, L. A. & Wilson, R. A. (1970). The chemical composition of protonephridial canal fluid from the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 35, 201–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilks, N. E. (1967). Lung to liver migration of schistosomes in the laboratory mouse. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 16, 599–605.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yolles, T., Moore, D. V. & Meleney, H. E. (1949). Post-cercarial development of Schistosoma mansoni in the rabbit and hamster after intra-peritoneal and percutaneous infection. Journal of Parasitology 35, 276–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar