The carotenoids of Polymorphus minutus (Acanthocephala) and its intermediate host, Gammarus Pulex

Barrett, John; Butterworth, Penelope E.

doi:10.1016/0010-406x(68)90254-5

Cited by 28 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…So, the reduction of total lipid contents in infected G. roeseli could be explained by their consumption by P. minutus by osmotrophy. This hypothesis is supported by the study of Barrett and Butterworth (1968) who demonstrated that P. minutus gets its carotenoids from its host. Carotenoids, which are lipid constituents, are the main compound of the crustacean vitellus (Mantiri et al 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Does the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus modify the energy reserves and antitoxic defences of its intermediate host Gammarus roeseli?

2012

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S U M M A R YIn disturbed environments, infected organisms have to face both parasitic and chemical stresses. Although this situation is common, few studies have been devoted to the effects of infection on hosts' energy reserves and antitoxic defence capacities, while parasite survival depends on host survival. In this study, we tested the consequences of an infection by Polymorphus minutus on the energy reserves (protein, lipid and glycogen) and antioxidant defence capacities (reduced glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine ligase activity) of Gammarus roeseli males and females, in the absence of chemical stress. Moreover, malondialdehyde concentration was used as a toxicity biomarker. The results revealed that in infected G. roeseli, whatever their gender and the sampling month, protein and lipid contents were lower, but glycogen contents were higher. This could be explained by the fact that the parasite diverts part of the host's energy for its own development. Moreover, glutathione concentrations and γ-glutamylcysteine ligase activity were both lower, which could lead to lower antitoxic defence in the host. These results suggest negative effects on individuals in the case of additional stress (e.g. pollutant exposure). In the absence of chemical stress, the lower malondialdehyde level in infected gammarids could imply a probable protective effect of the parasite.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Does the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus modify the energy reserves and antitoxic defences of its intermediate host Gammarus roeseli?

2012

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“…By contrast, the increased conspicuousness of amphipods infected with acanthocephalan parasites (Bakker et al 1997) is regularly cited as a convincing example of adaptive manipulation of host phenotype (Lafferty 1999;Knudsen et al 2001;Moore 2002;Fuller et al 2003;Perrot-Minnot 2004;Seppälä et al 2005; Van der Veen 2005;Sanchez et al 2006). Several acanthocephalan species show carotenoid-based colorations (Barrett & Butterworth 1968Gaillard et al 2004) that are most often visible through the translucid cuticle of their intermediate hosts. It has been suggested that the yelloworange coloration of acanthocephalan parasites could attract the attention of fish predators, and possibly increase trophic transmission to appropriate final hosts (Bakker et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their concentration in cystacanths may thus simply result from the uptake and storage of lipids. Carotenoid uptake is, however, selective (Barrett & Butterworth 1968;Gaillard et al 2004) …”

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confidence: 99%

“…In P. minutus, the carotenoids are exclusively found in the lipid radial layer of the cystacanth and its derivatives (Barrett & Butterworth 1968). Carotenoids are circulating in crustaceans' haemolymph in a free state, either bound to proteins to form carotene-protein complexes or dissolved in fat droplets (Barrett & Butterworth 1968;Łotocka & Styczyń ska-Jurewicz 2001). Their concentration in cystacanths may thus simply result from the uptake and storage of lipids.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Carotenoid-based colour of acanthocephalan cystacanths plays no role in host manipulation

et al. 2008

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Manipulation by parasites is a catchy concept that has been applied to a large range of phenotypic alterations brought about by parasites in their hosts. It has, for instance, been suggested that the carotenoid-based colour of acanthocephalan cystacanths is adaptive through increasing the conspicuousness of infected intermediate hosts and, hence, their vulnerability to appropriate final hosts such as fish predators. We revisited the evidence in favour of adaptive coloration of acanthocephalan parasites in relation to increased trophic transmission using the crustacean amphipod Gammarus pulex and two species of acanthocephalans, Pomphorhynchus laevis and Polymorphus minutus. Both species show carotenoid-based colorations, but rely, respectively, on freshwater fish and aquatic bird species as final hosts. In addition, the two parasites differ in the type of behavioural alteration brought to their common intermediate host.Pomphorhynchus laevis reverses negative phototaxis in G. pulex, whereas P. minutus reverses positive geotaxis. In aquaria, trout showed selective predation for P. laevis-infected gammarids, whereas P. minutusinfected ones did not differ from uninfected controls in their vulnerability to predation. We tested for an effect of parasite coloration on increased trophic transmission by painting a yellow-orange spot on the cuticle of uninfected gammarids and by masking the yellow-orange spot of infected individuals with inconspicuous brown paint. To enhance realism, match of colour between painted mimics and true parasite was carefully checked using a spectrometer. We found no evidence for a role of parasite coloration in the increased vulnerability of gammarids to predation by trout. Painted mimics did not differ from control uninfected gammarids in their vulnerability to predation by trout. In addition, covering the place through which the parasite was visible did not reduce the vulnerability of infected gammarids to predation by trout. We discuss alternative evolutionary explanations for the origin and maintenance of carotenoidbased colorations in acanthocephalan parasites.

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“…In many acanthocephalans, a single major carotenoid is detected rather than a mixture of pigments. For instance, astaxanthin is the only carotenoid found in P. minutus cystacanths and adults (Barrett and Butterworth 1968), and adult Filicollis anatis only contain betacarotene (Barrett and Butterworth 1973). This suggests that although parasites are exposed to and can potentially obtain an array of host-derived carotenoids, only a subset of the carotenoids may be acquired by the parasite (Barrett and Butterworth 1973).…”

Section: Carotenoid Profiles Of Acanthocephalansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Season, Size and Parasitism by the Acanthocephalan, Profilicollis altmani, on the Carotenoid Concentration and Composition of the Pacific Mole Crab, Emerita analoga

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The carotenoids of Polymorphus minutus (Acanthocephala) and its intermediate host, Gammarus Pulex

Cited by 28 publications

References 8 publications

Does the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus modify the energy reserves and antitoxic defences of its intermediate host Gammarus roeseli?

Does the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus modify the energy reserves and antitoxic defences of its intermediate host Gammarus roeseli?

Carotenoid-based colour of acanthocephalan cystacanths plays no role in host manipulation

Effects of Season, Size and Parasitism by the Acanthocephalan, Profilicollis altmani, on the Carotenoid Concentration and Composition of the Pacific Mole Crab, Emerita analoga

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