Effects of infection by larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Metastrongylidae) on the metabolism of the experimental intermediate host Biomphalaria glabrata

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2012-06, Vol.131 (2), p.143-147
• Main Authors: Tunholi-Alves, Vinícius Menezes, Tunholi, Victor Menezes, Pinheiro, Jairo, Thiengo, Silvana Carvalho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alanine transaminase; Alanine Transaminase - metabolism; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Angiostrongylus cantonensis - physiology; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - metabolism; aspartate transaminase; Biochemical changes; Biomphalaria - metabolism; Biomphalaria - parasitology; Biomphalaria glabrata; excretion; hemolymph; Hemolymph - chemistry; Host-Parasite Interactions; Host–parasite relationship; intermediate hosts; larvae; metabolites; Metastrongylidae; Nematoda; nitrogen; parasitology; Parastrongylus cantonensis; protein metabolism; proteins; Proteins - metabolism; proteolysis; Rats; snails; urea; Urea - metabolism; uric acid; Uric Acid - metabolism
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.03.003

[Display omitted] ► Infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis alters metabolism of Biomphalaria glabrata. ► The ALT and AST activities in the hemolymph of B. glabrata infected with A. cantonensis increase. ► The total proteins content in the hemolymph of B. glabrata infected with A. cantonensis is reduced. ► Infection by A. cantonensis induces changes in the levels of nitrogen products in B. glabrata. The effect of infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis on the activity of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the concentration of total proteins, uric acid and urea in the hemolymph of Biomphalaria glabrata were investigated. The snails were dissected after 1, 2 and 3weeks of infection to collect the hemolymph. The infection by A. cantonensis induced severe changes in the host snail’s metabolism, triggering physiological mechanisms to minimize the deleterious effects caused by the larvae. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of total proteins in the infected snails, which occurred gradually as the infection advanced. This change was accompanied by an increase in the concentrations of urea and a decrease in the levels of uric acid in the hemolymph, suggesting that in this model the infection induces proteolysis and inversion of the excretion pattern of the infected snails. Besides this, variations in the activities of the aminotransferases were observed, with significantly higher levels in the infected groups than in the control group. These results indicate an increase in the protein metabolism of the infected snails, since there was an increase in nitrogen catabolites such as urea.