Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea): its effect on the life history traits of Pseudosuccinea columella (Gasteropoda: Lymnaeidae), an uncommon interaction

Abstract.

An uncommon snail-trematode interaction pattern was found for the Pseudosuccinea columella – Fasciola hepatica model under laboratory conditions. Week-old juveniles from two isolates showed very high rates of infection (90.0% and 93.3%) after exposure to five miracidia. They also showed differences in their life history traits when compared to a control group. However, they did not exhibit the increase in size and reduction/cessation in host fecundity which is usually observed in most of the other related snail-trematode systems. In contrast, infected juvenile P. columella showed increased egg laying after the onset of cercarial emission and there was no effect on growth. A third isolate of P. columella was found to be refractory to miracidial infection. This constitutes the first report of non-susceptibility to F. hepatica in a lymnaeid species which is usually susceptible. These non-susceptible snails exhibited lower fecundity and survival compared to non-exposed susceptible snails under identical laboratory conditions. The differences observed in terms of life span and reproduction could result from the cost of resistance for individuals from this isolate.