Clearance of schistosome parasites by resistant genotypes at a single genomic region in Biomphalaria glabrata snails involves cellular components of the hemolymph. Issue 5 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allan, Euan R.O.; Gourbal, Benjamin; Dores, Camila B.; Portet, Anais; Bayne, Christopher J.; Blouin, Michael S.
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 48:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Schistosomiasis -- Biomphalaria glabrata -- Histology -- Hemocyte -- Resistance -- Hemolymph transfer -- Plasma transfer; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Parasitology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.08.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7519

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The Guadeloupe resistance complex (GRC) does not alter snail integument or miracidial penetration. The GRC can reduce the number of free parasites in snails. The GRC confers schistosome resistance via the hemolymph. Abstract: Schistosomiasis is one of the most detrimental neglected tropical diseases. Controlling the spread of this parasitic illness requires effective sanitation, access to chemotherapeutic drugs, and control over populations of the freshwater snails, such as Biomphalaria glabrata, that are essential intermediate hosts for schistosomes. Effectively controlling this disease, while minimising ecological implications of such control, will require an extensive understanding of the immunological interactions between schistosomes and their molluscan intermediate hosts. Here we histologically characterise the clearance of schistosome larvae by snails that exhibit allelic variation at a single genomic region, the Guadeloupe resistance complex. We show that snails with a resistant Guadeloupe resistance complex genotype clear schistosomes within the first 24–48 h, and that this resistance can be transferred to susceptible snails via whole hemolymph but not cell-free plasma. These findings imply that Guadeloupe resistance complex-coded proteins help to coordinate hemocyte-mediated immune responses to schistosome infections in Guadeloupean snails.