Population Biology and Landscape Ecology of Digenetic Trematode Parasites in their Gastropod Hosts, with Special Emphasis on Echinostoma spp.

Digenetic trematode parasites are characterized by having complex life cycles involving both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, and are grouped into 1 of 2 categories. Allogenic parasites have at least one host capable of moving between aquatic habitats, while autogenic species have all hosts restricted to a single body of water. These life cycle categories help shape the transmission dynamics of trematode larval stages in their gastropod hosts. Allogenic parasites, particularly those cycling through waterfowl, have distinct seasonal trends in their infection patterns in gastropod first intermediate hosts due to their ephemeral nature, while autogenic species exhibit continuous recruitment due to the consistent presence of definitive hosts. Additionally, the ecology and abundance of the definitive hosts and snail size were intimately associated with the infection patterns of miracidia in their gastropod first intermediate hosts.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Zimmermann, Michael R.

• Echinostoma

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/39292

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/39292