scholarly journals Do male and female beetles (Tenebrio molitor) respond differently to rat feces containing eggs from the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta?

2010 ◽  
Vol 02 (08) ◽  
pp. 855-859
Author(s):  
John F. Shea
Keyword(s):  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Male And Female

Changes induced by Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) in the behaviour of the intermediate host Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera)

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2291-2294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Hurd ◽  
Sharon Fogo
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Aggregation Pheromone ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Loss Of Response ◽  
Host Behaviour ◽  
Dose Dependent

Metacestodes of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, have been shown to induce behavioural changes in the intermediate host Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera). Male and female beetles, examined 11–12 days postinfection, were shown to exhibit a significant decrease in activity and photophobic behaviour. In addition, a significant loss of response to aggregation pheromone occurred in both sexes. No differences in host behaviour were detected 4–5 days postinfection. It thus appears that behavioural changes are associated with parasite maturity. We were unable to demonstrate a dose-dependent loss of photophobic behaviour.

Hymenolepis diminuta: metacestode-induced reduction in the synthesis of the yolk protein, vitellogenin, in the fat body of Tenebrio molitor

Parasitology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Webb ◽  
H. Hurd
Keyword(s):  
Post Infection ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Vitellogenin Synthesis ◽  
Specific Stage ◽  
Fat Bodies ◽  
Do So

SUMMARYVitellogenin synthesis by the fat body has been monitored using in vitro culture and immunoprecipitation. This system was found to be efficient for measuring vitellogenin production in both non-infected Tenebrio molitor and those infected with Hymenolepis diminuta. In fat bodies from infected beetles, vitellogenin production was decreased by up to 75% (day 24 post-infection) and, at all times investigated, vitellogenin synthesis was significantly below control levels (days 3–30 post-infection). Incubating fat bodies from control insects with isolated metacestodes indicated that this may be a direct effect by the parasite which is developmental stage-specific. Stage II, but not stage III–IV, nor heat-killed parasites could bring about this decrease in vitellogenin. In addition, these effects may be density dependent within the range of 2–20 parasites per fat body; only 2 metacestodes were necessary to cause a significant decrease. Since metacestodes do not take up vitellogenin, nor limit the amount of [14C] leucine available to the fat body for vitellogenin production, it is conceivable that the parasite produces a potent inhibitor of vitellogenin synthesis, or a molecule which induces cells within the fat body to do so.

Immunity to Hymenolepis diminuta: unresponsiveness of the athymic nude mouse to infection

Parasitology ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Bland
Keyword(s):  
Nude Mouse ◽  
Athymic Nude Mouse ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Immune Rejection ◽  
Male And Female

Male and female congenitally athymic nude (nu/nu) mice infected with a single cysticercoid of Hymenolepis diminuta at 6 weeks of age retain the infection for at least 33 days. In the males of their phenotypically normal litter-mates, however, a single cysticercoid infection establishes and grows but is expelled between days 11 and 17. The unresponsiveness of the nude mouse to single H. diminuta infection is evidence that the immune rejection from normal mice is thymus-dependent.

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.

Hymenolepis diminuta: an investigation of juvenile hormone titre, degradation and supplementation in the intermediate host, Tenebrio molitor

Parasitology ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hurd ◽  
C. Strambi ◽  
N. E. Beckage
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Topical Application ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Female Control

SUMMARYMetacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta cause a perturbance of vitellogenesis in the intermediate host Tenebrio molitor. The reduction in host reproductive output associated with infection may be due to this pathophysiology. Many of these events are regulated by host juvenile hormone (JH). A comparison of the titre of JH and its rate of degradation in female control and parasitized 15-day-old insects has been made. Haemolymph from female beetles contained 1·27 pMol JH equivalents/100 µl. No significant difference was associated with infection. However, topical application of a JH analogue, methoprene, at the time of infecion or 8 days post-infection reduced the significant accumulation of vitellogenin usually found in the haemolymph of females 12 days or more post-infection. These findings indicate that parasite-induced alteration of host vitellogenesis is not mediated via alteration in JH titres, although observations made after hormone supplementation suggest some form of interaction between the parasite and the host endocrine system.

Variation in the size and position of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) within the rat intestine

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 1091-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Mettrick ◽  
Lorna C. Dunkley
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Pyloric Sphincter ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Rat Intestine ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats

Data on the dry weight of 410 worms from both male and female rats is shown not to differ significantly from the normal (Gaussian) frequency distribution. This finding justified the use of statistics based on this function.Host body weight is shown to have a highly significant (P < 0.01) effect upon worm dry weight. The heavier the rat, the smaller the worms. An experimental design taking rat body weight into consideration is shown to be up to 36% more efficient in demonstrating differences between groups than one that ignores this source of variation. The point of scolex attachment behind the pyloric sphincter also has a significant effect (P < 0.05) upon worm dry weight. The nearer the scolex is to the stomach, the smaller the worm.The distribution of worm biomass in the intestine does not follow a normal (Gaussian) frequency, but is both asymmetrical (P < 0.001) and flattened (P < 0.001). Over 50% of the parasite biomass lies within the second quarter of the intestine. The distribution of the median points of worm strobilae in the rat intestine is also asymmetrical (P < 0.01) with a peak in the zone which represents a distance of 30–35% from the stomach.The migration of H. diminuta within the rat intestine results in the greater part of the parasite body lying in the second quarter of the intestine. The median points of the strobilae are concentrated at the junction of the first and second quarters of the intestine. This region of the rat intestine appears to offer the optimum site for the growth of H. diminuta.

Parasite populations in the brown ratRattus norvegicusfrom Doha, Qatar between years: the effect of host age, sex and density

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Abu-Madi ◽  
J.M. Behnke ◽  
M. Mikhail ◽  
J.W. Lewis ◽  
M.L. Al-Kaabi
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Host Age ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Parasite Populations ◽  
Age And Sex

AbstractA total of 179 urban rats were sampled in the city of Doha in Qatar across the winter seasons (February–April) of 2002 and 2003. Only two parasites were identified, with overall prevalences of 35.8% and 41.3% for the cestodeHymenolepis diminutaand the fleaXenopsylla astiarespectively. The prevalence ofH. diminutawas markedly influenced by both year of study and host age, being higher in 2003 and amongst older rats. The abundance of infection ofH. diminutawas influenced by the year of study, host age and sex. Worm burdens in adult rats were almost twice as heavy in males compared with females and adults of both sexes harboured heavier infections than juveniles. The prevalence ofX. astiawas influenced by both year and host age, being higher in juvenile rats in 2002 and in adults in 2003. The abundance ofX. astiawas significantly higher in 2003 and both male and female rats showed similar abundances, but in 2003 females were more heavily infested. Reasons for this are discussed in relation to the differing foraging strategies shown by male and female rats. The prevalence and abundance profiles for bothH. diminutaandX. astiawere higher overall in 2003 due to a significant increase in the rat population density, although this did not reflect in any increase in parasite species richness. Rats that were infected withH. diminutawere almost twice as likely to be infected withX. astiathan those without the cestode, but when controlled for the effects of year, host age and sex, no quantitative interactions were detected between the two parasite species.

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