Effect of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, on the coprophagic activity of its intermediate host, Tribolium confusum

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 2311-2314 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Evans ◽  
M. C. Hardy ◽  
Renate Singh ◽  
G. E. Moodie ◽  
J. J. Cote
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Observation Time ◽  
Tribolium Confusum ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Test Arena ◽  
The Difference

Populations of Tribolium confusum that had been fed continuously (satiated) or starved for 48 h were separated into groups of 10 beetles each. Each group was placed in a test arena (diameter 90 mm) that contained two infective baits (feces from rats infected with patent Hymenolepis diminuta) and two baits from uninfected rats and allowed to forage for 120 or 240 min. The number of beetles aggregated in the immediate region of each bait was recorded every 20 min until the experiment was terminated. During the first 180 min the distribution of the beetles in the starved populations invariably favoured (P < 0.025) the infective baits. A similar trend was observed with satiated beetles but the difference in beetle distribution was significant (P < 0.001) only at the 100-min observation time. With both starved and satiated populations the differences in distribution between bait types were not significant after 180 min.

Interactions of the cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta and Raillietina cesticillus in their intermediate host, Tribolium confusum

Parasitology ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Gordon ◽  
P. J. Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Challenge Infection ◽  
Tribolium Confusum ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Experimental Exposure ◽  
Establishment Success ◽  
Homologous Challenge

This study was based on the experimental exposure of beetles to homologous and heterologous infections of Hymenolepis diminuta and Raillietina cesticillus. The results demonstrated that, for both species over the range of parasite densities employed, the presence of a primary infection had no effect on the establishment success of an homologous challenge infection. The establishment success of R. cesticillus cysticercoids was not affected by the presence of an H. diminuta infection. The existence of an R. cesticillus infection, however, severely reduced the establishment success of an H. diminuta infection. The reduction in H. diminuta establishment was greatest in R. cesticillus infections less than 10 days old. The plausibility of some of the mechanisms that are potentially responsible for the reduction in H. diminuta establishment success is discussed, as is the possible ecological significance of these results.

The influence of Hymenolepis diminuta on the survival and fecundity of the intermediate host, Tribolium confusum

Parasitology ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Keymer
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Tribolium Confusum ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Density Dependent ◽  
Host Mortality ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
High Parasite

SUMMARYAn experimental study of the effects of parasitism by H. diminuta on the intermediate host, Tribolium confusum, is described. No density- dependent constraints on parasite establishment within individual hosts are evident, although a reduction in cysticercoid size at high parasite burdens is demonstrated. The relationship between parasite burden, host mortality and host fecundity is investigated. Host mortality is linearly related to parasite burden, whereas the relationship between parasite burden and host fecundity is non-linear. There is no difference in viability between eggs from infected and uninfected females. The generative causes of these effects are not investigated experimentally, although it is postulated that survival is related to the degree of damage to the midgut wall caused by parasite penetration, and fecundity to the biomass of parasites harboured by the host. The significance of these effects is discussed in relation to the overall dynamics of the host-parasite association.

Parasite-induced changes in the behaviour of cestode-infected beetles: adaptation or simple pathology?

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1268-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonia Robb ◽  
Mary L. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Tribolium Confusum ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Larval Form ◽  
Infected Female ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Male Pheromones ◽  
Induced Changes

Although the cause is often unclear, many parasites alter the behaviour of their intermediate hosts. The larval form of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, has previously been shown to modify the behaviour of its intermediate host, the flour beetle, Tribolium confusum, in a manner that may be adaptive to the parasite. To test this explanation we observed host behaviours including activity, concealment, and the response to and production of pheromones. Infected female beetles examined both 4–5 and 11–12 days post infection were slower moving and slower to conceal themselves than uninfected conspecifics; however, they did not differ from uninfected individuals in staying concealed. Infection of T. confusum did not affect the production of pheromones by mated and virgin females or the response of females to male pheromones. A second hypothesis for altered behaviours may be that modified behaviours result from pathology. The survivorship of mated infected female beetles was significantly lower than that of infected virgin beetles and uninfected beetles. Thus, both mated status and infection were important factors in survivorship, but only infection had significant effects on the altered behaviours. In this system, therefore, the hypothesis that behavioural changes are due to adaptive manipulation of the host by the parasite is supported.

scholarly journals The Effect of Trematode Parasites on the Growth of Littorina Neritoides (L.)

1941 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Rothschild
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Size Groups ◽  
Second Intermediate Host ◽  
Upward Slope ◽  
Accelerated Growth ◽  
The Difference ◽  
First Intermediate Host ◽  
Low Rate ◽  
Trematode Parasites

If the number of infections with (a) trematode parthenitae and cercariae using Littorina neritoides as first intermediate host only, and (b) encysted metacercariae using L. neritoides as second intermediate host only, are plotted against the size of the snails, two different curves result. The first shows a low rate of infection in the small size groups, but a steep upward slope rising to 91% in the large size groups. The second shows a curve increasing uniformly to 87% infection.Possible interpretations are discussed, and it is concluded that the difference is probably due to the fact that primary infections cause accelerated growth in the host.

Hymenolepis diminuta: influence of metacestodes on synthesis and secretion of fat body protein and its ovarian sequestration in the intermediate host, Tenebrio molitor

Parasitology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Hurd ◽  
C. Arme
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Concomitant Reduction ◽  
Fat Bodies

SUMMARYFemale Tenebrio molitor infected with metacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta exhibit elevated concentrations of female-specific proteins in their haemolymph and the origin of these has been investigated. Following a 4 h in vitro incubation with [14C]leucine, fat bodies from non-infected females secreted 13 times more protein than those from females 12 days post-infection. A comparison of the uptake in vivo of radio-isotope labelled amino acids by ovaries from non-infected and infected beetles of various ages revealed no differences; however, a 51·5% decrease in protein sequestration was detected in females 12 days post-infection. Electrophoresis of homogenates of radio-isotope labelled ovaries demonstrated that the majority of label was associated with vitellin sub-units. It is suggested that the decrease in vitellogenin sequestration associated with infection results in an increase in the haemolymph concentration of these proteins despite a concomitant reduction in their secretion by fat bodies. Both fat body synthesis and ovarian sequestration are under juvenile hormone control and it is proposed that metacestodes of H. diminuta may cause a reduction in the concentration of this hormone in the intermediate host.

The effect of mebendazole on different developmental stages of Hymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Novak ◽  
W. S. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Tribolium Confusum ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta

Tribolium confusum beetles infected with Hymenolepis diminuta were fed continuously from day 1, 3, 5, 6, or 7 to day 10 post infection (p.i.) on a mixture composed of two parts Telmin (containing 16.67% of mebendazole) and one part flour. The drug inhibited the worm development and this effect decreased as the age of larvae at the time of the first exposure increased. Lowered incidence of infection, decreased population size, and retarded development were apparent when the beetles were given drug from day 3 p.i. or earlier. Retarded development was also observed in cysticercoids from beetles given drug from day 5 p.i. When given from day 6 or later, it had no effect on worm development. However, when compared with larvae from beetles fed only flour, cysticercoids exposed to the drug from day 6 or later showed reduced infectivity and a decrease in their ability to excyst in vitro. Fully developed infective cysticercoids exposed to the drug from day 10 p.i. or later were not affected by it.

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