Diet of schistosome vectors influences infection outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Resource availability can alter infection outcomes through its impact on host immunity and on parasite reproduction. On one hand, enhanced nutrition could favor immunity, limiting the parasite, and on the other hand, it could favor establishment and reproduction of the parasite. Our study aimed to determine the effect of diet on (1) host susceptibility to infection and (2) parasite production in a snail-trematode system. We fed Biomphalaria sudanica, a snail vector of Schistosoma mansoni, either a strict lettuce (low nutrient) or pellet (high nutrient) diet for two generations before exposing them to S. mansoni. We used two parasite strains, one that is incompatible with the snails and one that is compatible with the snails. We found that when exposed to incompatible p

SUBMITTER: Trapp J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12439756 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature