Biological implications of the phenotypic plasticity in the Schistosoma mansoni - Nectomys squamipes model

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Elaine Machado Martinez²  Michele Costa-silva²  Renata Heisler Neves¹  Regina Maria Figueiredo De Oliveira²  José Roberto Machado-silva² 

[1] ,Uerj Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e ParasitologiaRio de Janeiro RJ ,Brasil

关键词: Schistosoma mansoni;    Nectomys squamipes;    Epidemiology;    Biological study;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46652008000400008

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The water-rat Nectomys squamipes is mostly important non-human host in schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Brazil, due to its susceptibility, high abundance and water-contact pattern. During experimental infection of N. squamipes with Schistosoma mansoni, adult worms show phenotypic plasticity. This finding led us to investigate whether biological behavior is also affected. This was assessed comparing the biological characteristics of four S. mansoni strains: BE (State of Belém do Pará), CE (State of Pernambuco), CMO (State of Rio Grande do Norte) and SJ (State of São Paulo) using laboratory-bred N. squamipes. The infection was monitored by determination of the pre-patent period, fecal egg output, egg viability, intestinal egg count and, infectivity rate. No biological modification was observed in these parameters. Overall results highlight that N. squamipes was susceptible to several S. mansoni strains, suggesting that it might contribute to the maintenance of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.

【 授权许可】

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