Factors Affecting Adoptive Transfer of Resistance to Schistosoma mansoni in the Snail Intermediate Host, Biomphalaria glabrata

Abstract

We examined potential variables affecting adoptive transfer of resistance to Schistosoma mansoni in Biomphalaria glabrata implanted with amebocyte-producing organs (APOs) from resistant snails. Transplants of 7 tissues other than the APO (heart, kidney, mantle, albumin gland, brain, digestive gland, and gonad) did not transfer resistance, suggesting a unique property of this structure. Only APOs from donors previously exposed to miracidia transferred resistance, although whether this is evidence for a priming effect or merely the elimination of susceptible donors is not known. Variability in the donor and in the implant itself apparently was unimportant, inasmuch as implants from small or large snails or from 2 separate donors all conferred similar levels of resistance. Recipients of APOs from 2 additional resistant strains of B. glabrata, 10-R2 and Salvador, also displayed resistance. However, no resistance was transferred by APOs from schistosome-refractory B. obstructa. Histological examination of implants removed from recipients that either did or did not show transferred resistance revealed no differences in mitotic activity. Furthermore, implanted APOs from B. obstructa displayed no mitotic activity. Finally, reexposure of snails with transferred resistance to a large dose of miracidia caused infection in 70%, suggesting that either transferred resistance is transitory or it can be overwhelmed.