Carbohydrate titres in the haemolymph and midgut glands of Gammarus pulex infected with the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis

Abstract

AbstractAn examination of the effects of Pomphorhynchus laevis cystacanths on the haemolymph and midgut gland carbohydrate titres of its intermediate host, Gammarus pulex (Crustacea) was undertaken. In the haemolymph, infection with cystacanths did not alter the relationship between haemolymph carbohydrate titres and body wet weight. However, in the midgut glands, infection did alter the relationship between gammarid wet weight and titres of glucose and trehalose (P<0.05, Chow test). The linear relationship between gammarid size and midgut glycogen titre was also significantly altered by infection. Thus circulating carbohydrate titres are unaltered in infected gammarids but storage ones are. The changes in carbohydrate titres and the relationship between individual titres and body wet weight are discussed, especially regarding parasite index.