Trematode-induced alterations in shell shape of the mud snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus (Prosobranchia: Batillariidae)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trematode-induced alterations in shell shape of the mud snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus (Prosobranchia

T2 - Batillariidae)

AU - Hay, K. B.

AU - Fredensborg, B. L.

AU - Poulin, R.

PY - 2005/8/1

Y1 - 2005/8/1

N2 - The shell morphology of mud snails, Zeacumantus subcarinatus, both uninfected and infected by trematodes, was compared to determine if different trematode species induce different degrees of alteration in host shell shape. Snails harbouring either the echinostomatid Acanthoparyphium sp., or a double infection by the microphallid Maritrema novaezealandensis and an undescribed philophthalmid species, had a wider shell base relative to the rest of the shell spire, than uninfected snails or snails infected by only one of the latter two trematode species. These results are independent of any differences in shell length among the different infection groups. The findings of this study suggest that alterations in host shell morphology are species-specific trematode manipulations of host phenotype rather than a generalized host response to castrating trematodes.

AB - The shell morphology of mud snails, Zeacumantus subcarinatus, both uninfected and infected by trematodes, was compared to determine if different trematode species induce different degrees of alteration in host shell shape. Snails harbouring either the echinostomatid Acanthoparyphium sp., or a double infection by the microphallid Maritrema novaezealandensis and an undescribed philophthalmid species, had a wider shell base relative to the rest of the shell spire, than uninfected snails or snails infected by only one of the latter two trematode species. These results are independent of any differences in shell length among the different infection groups. The findings of this study suggest that alterations in host shell morphology are species-specific trematode manipulations of host phenotype rather than a generalized host response to castrating trematodes.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=22944484425&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0025315405012002

DO - 10.1017/S0025315405012002

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:22944484425

SN - 0025-3154

VL - 85

SP - 989

EP - 992

JO - Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

JF - Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

IS - 4

ER -