Experimental Life History and Biological Characteristics of <I>Fasciola gigantica</I> (Digenea: Fasciolidae)

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the life history, morphology, and maturation of larval stages and adult worms of Fasciola gigantica in experimental mice. Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa was used as the intermediate host, and Oryza sativa was used for encystment of the metacercariae, while Mus musculus was used as the definitive host for maturation study. Fresh eggs from the gall bladder of water buffaloes fully developed into embryonated ones and hatched out at days 11-12 after incubation at about 29ºC. Free-swimming miracidia rapidly penetrated into the snail host, and gradually developed into the next larval stages; sporocyst, redia, and daughter redia with cercariae. Fully-developed cercariae were separated from the redia and shed from the snails on day 39 post-infection (PI). Free-swimming cercariae were immediately allowed to adhere to rice plants, and capsules were constructed to protect metacercariae on rice plants. Juvenile worms were detected in intestines of mice at days 3 and 6 PI, but they were found in the bile duct from day 9 PI. Juvenile and adult flukes were recovered from 16 mice experimentally infected with metacercariae, with the average recovery rate of 35.8%. Sexually mature adult flukes were recovered from day 42 PI. It could be confirmed that experimentally encysted metacercariae could infect and develop to maturity in the experimental host. The present study reports for the first time the complete life history of F. gigantica by an experimental study in Thailand. The obtained information can be used as a guide for prevention, elimination, and treatment of F. gigantica at environment and in other hosts.

Transcriptomic responses of water buffalo liver to infection with the digenetic fluke Fasciola gigantica

“…After 42 days, fully-developed cercariae emerged from the snails and were harvested and developed into metacercariae on 5 × 5 cm cellophane sheets. The metacercariae on cellophane sheets were washed several times with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and were used immediately to infect buffaloes as described previously [ 33 ].…”

Complex and dynamic transcriptional changes allow the helminth Fasciola gigantica to adjust to its intermediate snail and definitive mammalian hosts

“…A larger proportion of floating metacercariae cysts have been observed for F. gigantica , implying that water is an important source of infection in addition to encysted metacercariae on vegetation for F. gigantica [5, 14]. Comparative analysis of the maturation and development times of the parasites in the snail host indicates that as a consequence of higher temperatures F. gigantica develops more rapidly than its temperate counterpart F. hepatica [14]. Furthermore, studies of the infectivity of F. gigantica versus F. hepatica have shown that certain ruminant species/breeds display different susceptibilities to the two species.…”

Larva Trematoda Pada Siput Air Tawar Di Areal Persawahan Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

“…Pada sporokista, sel germinal memperbanyak diri dan membentuk massa germinal baru. Masa germinal baru tersebut menghasilkan daughter sporocyst atau dapat menjadi redia (Phalee et al, 2015). Redia yang ditemukan berbentuk memanjang, silindris, ujung anterior mengerucut runcing dengan ujung posterior yang tumpul.…”

“…Pada trematoda yang memiliki pola perkembangan redia sebanyak dua kali, redia fase pertama sering disebut mother redia dan redia fase kedua disebut daughter redia. Fase mother redia mengandung sel germinal dan calon redia berikutnya, sedangkan daughter redia merupakan redia yang mengandung calon serkaria yang siap dilepaskan (Phalee et al, 2015).…”