TY - JOUR
T1 - The distribution of the metacercariae of Diplostomum phoxini in the brain of minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus
AU - Barber, Iain
AU - Crompton, D. W.T.
PY - 1997/1/31
Y1 - 1997/1/31
N2 - Quantitative data are presented on the spatial distribution of metacercariae of the digenean trematode Diplostomum phoxini (Faust, 1918) in the brains of minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758), from two Scottish populations. Sequential examination of serial histological sections revealed metacercariae to be unevenly distributed throughout the brain, aggregating in specific regions including the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata and the optic lobes. In addition, a number of metacercariae were found in the anterior part of the spinal cord. The inferior lobe of the cerebellum, pituitary, olfactory lobes and olfactory bulbs were largely free of metacercariae. Reasons for the uneven distribution of metacercariae within the brains of infected minnows are discussed, including the possibility that the parasite may have evolved to enhance its transmission to subsequent hosts by aggregating in regions known to be important in the control of the host's antipredator responses.
AB - Quantitative data are presented on the spatial distribution of metacercariae of the digenean trematode Diplostomum phoxini (Faust, 1918) in the brains of minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758), from two Scottish populations. Sequential examination of serial histological sections revealed metacercariae to be unevenly distributed throughout the brain, aggregating in specific regions including the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata and the optic lobes. In addition, a number of metacercariae were found in the anterior part of the spinal cord. The inferior lobe of the cerebellum, pituitary, olfactory lobes and olfactory bulbs were largely free of metacercariae. Reasons for the uneven distribution of metacercariae within the brains of infected minnows are discussed, including the possibility that the parasite may have evolved to enhance its transmission to subsequent hosts by aggregating in regions known to be important in the control of the host's antipredator responses.
KW - brain flukes
KW - helminths
KW - manipulation hypothesis
KW - parasites
KW - site selection
KW - Central Nervous System Diseases/parasitology
KW - Trematode Infections/veterinary
KW - Brain Diseases/parasitology
KW - Scotland
KW - Tissue Distribution
KW - Cyprinidae/anatomy & histology
KW - Fish Diseases/parasitology
KW - Animals
KW - Brain/anatomy & histology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030984870&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9229570
AN - SCOPUS:0030984870
SN - 0015-5683
VL - 44
SP - 19
EP - 25
JO - Folia Parasitologica
JF - Folia Parasitologica
IS - 1
ER -