NIAID Schistosomiasis Resource Center

Growth conditions until patency

Author Fred Lewis

Introduction

The length of the prepatent phase of S. mansoni in B. glabrata is highly dependent on maintenance temperature. If the snails are maintained continually at 26ºC, some snails can begin to liberate (shed) cercariae by 28-30 days after they are exposed to miracidia.

Equipment

Incubator or modified room that can hold a steady temperature around 26ºC.

Materials and reagents

Aquaria or suitable pans for maintaining snails

Lettuce, algae, gel snail food, dry fish food

Procedure

· Maintain snails in shallow containers or aquaria.

· For a food source, use fresh lettuce, small amounts of lettuce that has been wilted by heat, or combinations of these with other nutritious food sources.

· Change the aquarium water periodically, especially if water becomes cloudy or a foul odor is noticed.

Follow-up comments/recommendations

The greatest amount of cercarial shedding typically occurs 1-2 weeks after initial shedding, but absolute numbers of cercariae vary between snails and are dependent upon many factors.

References

Standen, O. D. 1952. Experimental infection of Australorbis glabratus with Schistosoma mansoni. I. Individual and mass infection of snails, and the relationship of infection to temperature and season. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 46: 48-53.

Stirewalt, M. A. 1954. Effect of snail maintenance temperatures on development of Schistosoma mansoni. Experimental Parasitology 3: 504-516.

Lewis, F.A., Stirewalt, M.A., Souza, C.P., and Gazzinelli, G. 1986. Large-scale laboratory maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni, with observations on three schistosome/snail host combinations. Journal of Parasitology 72, 813-829.

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		Growth conditions until patency Author Fred Lewis Introduction The length of the prepatent phase of S. mansoni in B. glabrata is highly dependent on maintenance temperature. If the snails are maintained continually at 26ºC, some snails can begin to liberate (shed) cercariae by 28-30 days after they are exposed to miracidia. Equipment Incubator or modified room that can hold a steady temperature around 26ºC. Materials and reagents Aquaria or suitable pans for maintaining snails Lettuce, algae, gel snail food, dry fish food Procedure · Maintain snails in shallow containers or aquaria. · For a food source, use fresh lettuce, small amounts of lettuce that has been wilted by heat, or combinations of these with other nutritious food sources. · Change the aquarium water periodically, especially if water becomes cloudy or a foul odor is noticed. Follow-up comments/recommendations The greatest amount of cercarial shedding typically occurs 1-2 weeks after initial shedding, but absolute numbers of cercariae vary between snails and are dependent upon many factors. References Standen, O. D. 1952. Experimental infection of Australorbis glabratus with Schistosoma mansoni. I. Individual and mass infection of snails, and the relationship of infection to temperature and season. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 46: 48-53. Stirewalt, M. A. 1954. Effect of snail maintenance temperatures on development of Schistosoma mansoni. Experimental Parasitology 3: 504-516. Lewis, F.A., Stirewalt, M.A., Souza, C.P., and Gazzinelli, G. 1986. Large-scale laboratory maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni, with observations on three schistosome/snail host combinations. Journal of Parasitology 72, 813-829.