Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T05:09:49.632Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cercaria–schistosomulum surface transformation of Trichobilharzia szidati and its putative immunological impact

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1998

P. HORÁK
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic
L. KOVÁŘ
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844 Prague 2, Czech Republic
L. KOLÁŘOVÁ
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty Hospital Bulovka, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Studničkova 7, CZ-12800 Prague 2, Czech Republic
J. NEBESÁŘOVÁ
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Abstract

Schistosome cercariae of the genus Trichobilharzia are the causative agent of swimmers' itch. In order to characterize the changes in parasites during and after the penetration of the host skin, in vitro and in vivo (in ducks and mice) transformations of T. szidati cercariae to schistosomula were performed. Ultrastructural observation revealed that cercariae possess a simple outer tegumental membrane with a thick glycocalyx. As with human schistosomes, the latter structure disappears during transformation and a new double membrane with putative protective function is formed. Our biochemical and immunological observations showed that the carbohydrate-rich glycocalyx of cercariae is readily bound by lectins and antibodies. The in vitro transformation to schistosomula can be detected by enhanced reactivity of 2 lectin probes (PNA and ConA) with the surface. The in vivo-transformed (skin and lung) schistosomula appear to have few surface ligands for the 12 lectin probes being tested. Similarly, the cercarial surface and its remnants on the in vitro-produced schistosomula is recognized by sera from immunized mice and humans with cercarial dermatitis; the tissue schistosomula fail to react with these antibodies. The loss of surface targets as a part of parasite immune evasion within the host is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)