Abstract
BackgroundGiven that increase in temperature may alter host-parasite relationships, the anticipated rise in temperature due to global warming might change transmission patterns of certain diseases. However, the extent to which this will happen is not well understood.MethodsUsing a host-parasite system involving Bulinus globosus and Schistosoma haematobium, we assessed the effect of temperature on snail fecundity, growth, survival and parasite development under laboratory conditions.ResultsOur results show that temperature may have a non-linear effect on snail fecundity and snail growth. Snails maintained at 15.5 °C and 36.0 °C did not produce egg masses while those maintained at 25.8 °C laid 344 and 105 more egg masses than snails at 31.0 °C and 21.2 °C, respectively. Attainment of patency led to a reduction in egg mass production among the snails. However, the reduction in fecundity for snails maintained at 21.2 °C occurred before snails started shedding cercariae. Parasite development was accelerated at high temperatures with snails maintained at 31.0 °C reaching patency after three weeks. Furthermore, snail growth rate was highest at 25.8 °C while it was inhibited at 15.5 °C and reduced at 31.0 °C. Increase in temperature increased snail mortality rates. Snails maintained at 36.0 °C had the shortest survival time while those maintained at 15.5 °C had the longest survival time.ConclusionsWe concluded that temperature influences fecunxdity, growth, survival and parasite development in the snail and thus dictates the time it takes the parasite to complete the life cycle. This has implications on transmission of schistosomiasis in the context of global warming.
Highlights
Given that increase in temperature may alter host-parasite relationships, the anticipated rise in temperature due to global warming might change transmission patterns of certain diseases
Pedersen et al [17] and Martens et al [18] suggested a possible reduction in habitat suitability and disease transmission while Zhou et al [19] and McCreesh et al [20] suggested that a rise in temperature may lead to an increase in suitable habitats and schistosomiasis prevalence
Snail fecundity Bulinus globosus snails maintained at average temperatures of 15.5 and 36.0 °C did not lay egg masses while those maintained at 21.2, 25.8 and 31.0 °C did
Summary
Given that increase in temperature may alter host-parasite relationships, the anticipated rise in temperature due to global warming might change transmission patterns of certain diseases. The effect of temperature on the growth and reproduction of snails may influence the development rates of parasites and hosts [14]. Growing evidence suggests that under future global warming scenarios, host population dynamics may play vital roles in determining disease spread patterns and parasite output load [15]. Temperature promotes the development of hosts and parasites while reducing their survival [16] suggesting that its net effect on host development and population size may be important in determining disease spread and parasitism levels. Nelson et al [21] suggested that adaption of snails to higher temperatures may affect their susceptibility to infection
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