Aerobic to anaerobic transition in Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818) infected with different miracidial doses of Echinostoma paraensei (Lie and Basch, 1967) by high-performance liquid chromatography

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2013-04, Vol.133 (4), p.403-410
• Main Authors: Tunholi, Victor Menezes, Tunholi-Alves, Vinícius Menezes, Lustrino, Danilo, Castro, Rosane N., Sant’Ana, Luiza D’Oliveira, Garcia, Juberlan Silva, Maldonado Jr, Arnaldo, dos Santos, Marcos Antônio José, Rodrigues, Maria de Lurdes de Azevedo, Pinheiro, Jairo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerobiosis; Anaerobiosis; Animals; Biomphalaria - metabolism; Biomphalaria - parasitology; Biomphalaria glabrata; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cricetinae; Disease Vectors; Echinostoma - growth & development; Echinostoma - physiology; Echinostoma paraensei; Gastropoda; Glucose; Glucose - analysis; Glycogen; Glycogen - analysis; Hemolymph - chemistry; Histocytochemistry; Host-Parasite Interactions; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - analysis; Lactate dehydrogenase; Lactic Acid - analysis; Mesocricetus; Organic acids; Oxalic Acid - analysis; Pyruvic Acid - analysis; Succinic Acid - analysis; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.01.012

► Echinostoma paraensei changes the organic acids levels in B. glabrata. ► Infection with E. paraensei increases glucose in Biomphalaria glabrata hemolymph. ► Infection by E. paraensei increases activity of LDH in B. glabrata hemolymph. ► Glycogen level decreases in the DGG of B. glabrata infected by E. paraensei. ► Infection by E. paraensei accelerates the anaerobic metabolism rate in B. glabrata. The glucose content in the hemolymph and glycogen content in the digestive gland–gonad complex (DGG) and cephalopedal mass of Biomphalaria glabrata exposed to different parasite doses (5 and 50 miracidia) of Echinostoma paraensei as well as the activity of lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analyses were also performed to determine the concentrations of four organic acids (oxalic, succinic, pyruvic and lactic) present in the hemolymph of infected and uninfected snails, to better understand the effect of infection on the host’s energetic/oxidative metabolism. The snails were dissected 1–4weeks after infection to collect the hemolymph and separate the tissues. There was alteration in the glycemia of the snails at both parasite doses, with a significant increase of glycemia from of the third week after infection in comparison to the control group. Changes were also observed in the lactate dehydrogenase activity, with increased activity as the infection progressed. In parallel, there was a decrease in the glycogen content in the storage tissues, with a markedly greater reduction in the digestive gland–gonad complex (larval development site) in comparison with the cephalopedal mass. Additionally, the infection by both miracidial doses resulted in an increase of oxalic and lactic acid levels, as well as in a decline of piruvic and succinic acid levels in B. glabrata, thus explaining the reduction of the oxidative decarboxylation rate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and acceleration of the anaerobic degradation of carbohydrates in the snails, through lactic fermentation, which is essential to ensure energy supply and success of the infection.