Evidence of phenotypic differences between resistant and susceptible isolates of Pseudosuccinea columella (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) to Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea) in Cuba

Abstract

Isolates of Cuban Pseudosuccinea columella susceptible and non-susceptible to Fasciola hepatica miracidial infection were compared for cellular reaction to miracidial development, shell morphometrics, mantle pigmentation pattern, and egg laying behaviour. At 24 h post-exposure, non-susceptible snails showed an early cellular host reaction to encapsulate and phagocytise the miracidium, whereas viable transforming miracidia were observed in exposed susceptible snails, indicating that non-susceptibility resulted from resistance rather than physiological unsuitability. Susceptible isolates (more than 80% susceptible to infection) showed significantly higher values of the morphometric indices shell width/ length and aperture width/length than resistant isolates (100% resistant). Mantle pigmentation pattern was analysed using Visilog software ; the cumulative distances between mantle spots were plotted and compared between isolates, showing a clear distinction between groups. Egg-laying behaviour also showed significant differences with susceptible snails preferring to lay their eggs on the container's walls whereas resistant snails preferred to lay their eggs on the bottom of the container.

Lymnaea schirazensis, an Overlooked Snail Distorting Fascioliasis Data: Genotype, Phenotype, Ecology, Worldwide Spread, Susceptibility, Applicability

“…Differences in compatibility between a trematode species and different geographical populations of the same snail host species are known, including Fasciola [26], [27]. Among lymnaeids, pronounced differences in susceptibility have been highlighted among snail populations encountered in close proximity [28], [29], and some snail populations have been mentioned to even show a total lack of susceptibility or resistance [29]–[31].…”

Characterization of 15 microsatellite loci in the pulmonate snail Pseudosuccinea columella (Mollusca, Gastropoda)

“…The freshwater pulmonate snail Pseudosuccinea columella has a large American distribution, and has also been introduced into Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia (Gutiérrez et al 2003). It is one of the intermediate hosts of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) with large variation in susceptibility among snail populations (Gutiérrez et al 2003). Pseudosuccinea columella is a self-fertile hermaphrodite but its mating system still has to be characterized.…”

First report of larval stages ofFasciola hepaticain a wild population ofPseudosuccinea columellafrom Cuba and the Caribbean

“…El Piló n is the first Cuban locality where the presence of P. columella naturally infected by F. hepatica has been demonstrated. All snails collected at the El Piló n site, where infection by the parasite was found, had mantles showing the type of pigmentation considered to be a good marker of susceptible populations of P. columella to F. hepatica infection (see Gutiérrez et al, 2003b).…”