Sympatric and allopatric experimental infections of the planorbid snailGyraulus chinensiswith miracidia ofEuparyphium albuferensis(Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)

Abstract

AbstractAn experimental infection with echinostomatid miracidia in sympatric or ‘local’ vs. allopatric or ‘away’ snail combinations, as a model to examine parasite compatibility, was carried out. We employedEuparyphium albuferensismiracidia to infectGyraulus chinensissnails, from three different natural parks: Albufera (Valencia, Spain); the Ebro Delta (Tarragona, Spain) and Coto de Doñana (Huelva, Spain). Insignificant differences between the three snail strains were noted for the infection rate and the rhythm of daily cercarial production. However, a significantly higher total cercarial production per snail, patent period and life span were observed in local snails. The different infection characteristics in the threeG. chinensisstrains considered reveal thatE. albuferensismiracidia demonstrate local adaptation.