Cercarial swimming performance and its potential role as a key variable of trematode transmission.

ABSTRACT: Trematode transmission in aquatic habitats from molluscan intermediate host to vertebrate or invertebrate target host is typically undertaken by a free-living stage known as cercariae. Active locomotion by cercariae is a key aspect of the transmission process with the swimming speed potentially contributing to infection success. Individual cercarial species swim at different speeds but the significance of this to infection potential has not been determined. This study, using data from the scientific literature, investigates the role of swimming speed in relation to cercarial morphology, host-searching strategies and target host species. Larger cercariae swim faster than smaller ones with tail length being the principal factor controlling locomotion rates. Different cercarial morphotypes sw

SUBMITTER: Morley NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10317743 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature