Effects of temperature acclimation on infection of Echinocephalus sinensis (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) from oysters to kittens

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Ko, Ronald C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z77-145; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z77-145

About 700 oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were acclimated in the laboratory to 33, 28, 20–24, 15, and 5 °C. Third-stage larvae of Echinocephalus sinensis Ko, 1975 recovered from the tissues of these molluscs were fed to 31 kittens which were examined 18 h postinfection. The number of successful infections produced and the number of worms located in tissues of kittens were found to be directly related to the ambient temperature of the molluscan host. Substantial infections were obtained only with worms from 33 and 28 °C. Worms could be effectively killed if the infected oysters were deep fried with batter for 7 s or dipped in boiling water for 30 s. The possibility of finding other nematodes of poikilotherms similar to E. sinensis in the tropics is briefly discussed.