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Parasitic Castration in Freshwater Snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Parasitic Castration in Freshwater Snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Structure of ovotestis and its parasitic castration were observed histologically in hermaphrodite freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Mollusca, Gastropoda). In mature healthy snail ovotestis was found to be closely associated with posterior region of digestive gland. It was composed of numerous oval to pear-shaped acini intermingled with loose inter-acinar connective tissue. Each acinus was found to be made up of two unequal zones, the larger testicular zone comprising of male germ cells and the smaller one with the female germ cells. Both of them were lined by germinal epithelium. Oocytes were generally found towards the periphery of ovotestis enclosed by the membrane tunica propria. In infected snails ovotestis was found to be invaded by the larval trematode parasites (sporocysts and xiphidiocercariae) but the larvae were restricted to the connective tissue of ovotestis and did not invade the acini. Except ovotestis no other organ was found to be infected with these larvae. Histopathological changes in the acini of infected ovotestis were associated with the severity of infection. Degenerative changes, hypotrophy and destruction of individual acinus were found in mild infection. In severe infection, autolysis and necrosis of acinar cells were found and ultimately these were completely replaced by parthenitae. In such parasitic castration no sex conversion was detected. In the present communication structure of ovotestis along with parasitic castration and its evolutionary significance are discussed. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Springer Journals

Parasitic Castration in Freshwater Snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

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References (32)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by The National Academy of Sciences, India
Subject
Life Sciences; Life Sciences, general; Behavioural Sciences; Plant Biochemistry; Nucleic Acid Chemistry
ISSN
0369-8211
eISSN
2250-1746
DOI
10.1007/s40011-012-0133-y
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Structure of ovotestis and its parasitic castration were observed histologically in hermaphrodite freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculatus (Mollusca, Gastropoda). In mature healthy snail ovotestis was found to be closely associated with posterior region of digestive gland. It was composed of numerous oval to pear-shaped acini intermingled with loose inter-acinar connective tissue. Each acinus was found to be made up of two unequal zones, the larger testicular zone comprising of male germ cells and the smaller one with the female germ cells. Both of them were lined by germinal epithelium. Oocytes were generally found towards the periphery of ovotestis enclosed by the membrane tunica propria. In infected snails ovotestis was found to be invaded by the larval trematode parasites (sporocysts and xiphidiocercariae) but the larvae were restricted to the connective tissue of ovotestis and did not invade the acini. Except ovotestis no other organ was found to be infected with these larvae. Histopathological changes in the acini of infected ovotestis were associated with the severity of infection. Degenerative changes, hypotrophy and destruction of individual acinus were found in mild infection. In severe infection, autolysis and necrosis of acinar cells were found and ultimately these were completely replaced by parthenitae. In such parasitic castration no sex conversion was detected. In the present communication structure of ovotestis along with parasitic castration and its evolutionary significance are discussed.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences – Springer Journals

Published: Dec 13, 2012

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