Behavioral Responses of Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia in Concentration Gradients of Snail-Conditioned Water
Year: 1979
Type: article
Abstract: Movement patterns of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia were examined in several concentrations and gradients of snail-conditioned water (SCW). Miracidia surrounded by uniform concentrations of SCW swam at the same speed and exhibited the same rate of turning (angular velocity) as did control miracidia swimming in spring water. However, miracidia in gradients of SCW exhibited a 3-fold increase in their angular velocity without altering their swimming speed. Miracidia ascending gradients of SCW did not increase their angular velocity and failed to orient to the gradient of the stimulant. In contrast, miracidia which encountered sufficiently abrupt decreases in SCW concentration, while descending the gradient, sharply increased their angular velocity. This behavior caused miracidia to remain in regions of high concentration of stimulant. The magnitude of decrease in SCW concentration needed to evoke this response depended on the absolute concentration of SCW. Thus, the miracidial response is a "boundary reaction", a form of chemoklinokinesis, and not a chemotaxis.
Source: Journal of Parasitology
DOI: 10.2307/3280200
Authors: Thomas M. Roberts, Samuel Ward, Eli Chernin
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2328869407