[Histological studies of the African giant snail (Achatina fulica) experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum or Angiostrongylus cantonensis (author's transl)]. 1976

R Sauerländer

African Giant Snails (Achatina fulica) about 6 weeks old were experimentally infected with each 5,000 to 20,000 first stage larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum or A. cantonensis by exposure to a larval suspension. The snails were histologically examined after various intervals after infection: 1 hour post infectionem (p.i.) larvae were present in the foot and 2 hours p.i. in addition in the gastrointestinal tract. 12 hours p.i. larvae were seen for the first time in the lung which reached nearly half of the total number of larvae via the hemolymph system. 24 hours p.i. or later 80-90% of the total larval population were detected in the foot and the lung. In the various organs (lung, mantle, hepatopancreas, gastro-intestinal tract, foot) the larvae were found in the loose connective tissue near or within the hemolymph vessels. The cellular defense mechanism of the snail is activated 12 hours p.i. and the parasites are surrounded by large numbers of leucocytes (leucocytic encapsulation). Three days p.i. the nuclei of the cells become spindle shaped and are forming concentric layers in the outer part of the capsule (fibroblastic type of encapsulation). Later on the wall of the encapsulation becomes thinner and a karyolysis can be recognized in the centre, consequently a cavity occurs. Encapsulations in organs poor in muscle cells can histologically not be differentiated from those located in the foot, which consists mainly of muscle cells; a myofibrous type of encapsulation has to be doubted. The effects of the infection on the snail are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007962 Leukocytes White blood cells. These include granular leukocytes (BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and NEUTROPHILS) as well as non-granular leukocytes (LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES). Blood Cells, White,Blood Corpuscles, White,White Blood Cells,White Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, White,Blood Corpuscle, White,Corpuscle, White Blood,Corpuscles, White Blood,Leukocyte,White Blood Cell,White Blood Corpuscle
D008681 Metastrongyloidea A superfamily of nematodes of the order STRONGYLIDA. Characteristics include a fluid-filled outer layer of cuticle and a reduced mouth and bursa. Metastrongyloideas
D005549 Foreign-Body Reaction Chronic inflammation and granuloma formation around irritating foreign bodies. Foreign Body Reaction,Reaction, Foreign-Body
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012908 Snails Marine, freshwater, or terrestrial mollusks of the class Gastropoda. Most have an enclosing spiral shell, and several genera harbor parasites pathogenic to man. Snail

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