Campeloma Decisum Research Articles

Distribution of aquatic gastropods across an interface between the Canadian Shield and limestone formations

This quantitative study gives a convincing demonstration in situ of the direct relationship which exists between the distribution and density of aquatic gastropods and the calcium concentration of their natural waters. The area chosen, in the Gravenhurst–Barrie district of southern Ontario, north of Lake Simcoe, provided a well-demarcated natural gradient across the interface between limestone formations and the calcium-poor rocks of the Pre-Cambrian Shield. Monthly quantitative samples over a 14-month period at 25 stations showed that most pulmonates, notably Physa gyrina and Helisoma anceps, had high densities in hard and medium water, whereas the prosobranchs Amnicola limosa and Campeloma decisum showed a reverse pattern, with highest densities in soft and medium water and very low densities in hard. Most pulmonates showed a slower individual growth rate in soft water and a lower proportion of large individuals.

Infectivity, Growth, and Development of Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae (Trematoda) in the Chick and on the Chorioallantois

Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae metacercariae grew, attained sexual maturity, and produced eggs containing fully developed miracidia in the bursa of Fabricius of the domestic chick and on the chick chorioallantois. Chicks cloacally exposed to metacercariae remained infected up to 8 weeks although the bursa was still present after 12 and 13 weeks. Following cloacal exposure with metacercariae, a low percentage of worms was recovered from the rectum of chemically bursectomized chicks. Body and testicular growth were greater in chickthan in chorioallantoic worms although as development progressed both demonstrated similar testicular-to-body size ratios. Daily development in the chick and on the chorioallantois has been described through sexual maturity. Chorioallantoic worms became ovigerous and contained eggs with miracidia later than chick worms and frequently produced aberrant eggs and abnormal stages of spermatogenesis, suggesting the chick is a more favorable site for development. Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae (Mueller, 1935) parasitizes the bursa of Fabricius of the black duck, Anas rubripes, and has been maintained in the small intestine of raccoons, and in the bursa of domestic ducks and chicks in the laboratory (Gower, 1938; Allison, 1943; Fried and Harris, 1971). Free metacercariae obtained from the uterus of naturally infected Campeloma decisum snails are suitable for experimental studies since they are easily maintained in the laboratory, infect domestic chicks and the chick chorioallantois, and become ovigerous in these sites within 3 or 4 days. This paper reports studies on infection, growth, and development of this trematode in the chick and on the chorioallantois. MATERIALS AND METHODS As described previously (Fried and Harris, 1971), metacercariae obtained from C. decisum snails were used to infect 1and 2-day-old domestic chicks cloacally and worms were recovered from the bursa. Chicks exposed to 4 to 6 metacercariae were necropsied at intervals from 5 min to 13 weeks to determine infectivity. Growth and development studies were made on worms reReceived for publication 7 September 1971. * Supported in part by a research grant from the Lafayette College Committee on Advanced Study and Research. t Present address: Institute for Pathobiology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015. + Present address: Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021. covered daily from 1 to 7 days following exposure of chicks to either 3 or 5 metacercariae. Infectivity was also determined for 14 1and 2-day-old chicks exposed orally to a total of 116 metacercariae (5, 6, or 10 each) in Ringer's and necropsied 3 days later. Chemically bursectomized chicks were hatched from eggs which, on the 3rd day of incubation, had been dipped, pointed end down, into cold 3% testosterone propionate (Nutritional Biochemicals Co., Cleveland, Ohio) in 95% ethanol to a depth of approximately 40 mm for 5 sec (Glick and Sadler, 1961). Infectivity was determined for 14 1and 2-day-old bursectomized chicks exposed cloacally to a total of 94 metacercariae (3 to 17 each) and necropsied at intervals from 4 hr to 3 days. Metacercariae transferred through 3 changes of sterile Ringer's were placed on chorioallantoic membranes of 8to 10-day-old fertile white leghorn eggs (Zwilling, 1959). Eggs which received 5 or 6 metacercariae each were incubated at 37.5 C and flukes were recovered daily from 1 to 8 days postinoculation. Metacercariae, chick-, and chorioallantoic worms were pipetted into hot AFA (Fried, 1962a), stained in Gower's (1939) carmine, cleared in terpineol, mounted in Permount, and used for growth measurements. Worms stained intravitally with neutral red were examined under light coverslip pressure to assess development and observations were also made on Bouin's and Caroy fixed paraffin sections stained with either Harris' hematoxylin or Heidenhain's iron alum hematoxylin and eosin.

Amino acids of the organic matrix of neogastropod shells

1. 1. Analyses of the organic matrix of the shell of the neogastropods Littorina irrorata, Polinices duplicatus, Thais floridana, Pila virens, Campeloma decisum and Nassarius obsoletus have shown differences in amino acid content between the soluble and insoluble fractions of each species as well as interspecific differences in both fractions. 2. 2. Glycine, glutamic and aspartic acids, serine and alanine were present in highest concentration in both soluble and insoluble fractions. 3. 3. The soluble fraction of each species had a higher aspartic and glutamic acid content than the insoluble fraction. 4. 4. Glycine, phenylalanine and tyrosine were consistently higher in the insoluble fraction than in the soluble fraction. 5. 5. The insoluble matrix of the shell of Nassarius differed from that of the other five species in containing unusually high or low concentrations of several of the amino acids. 6. 6. The soluble and insoluble fractions of molluscan shell matrix are thought to have different functions in shell formation.

Reproduction in Single- and Double-Worm Infections of Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae (Mueller, 1935) (Trematoda) in the Chick

Monometacercarial infections of the trematode, Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae, in the bursa of Fabricius of the domestic chick produce adults capable of self-insemination and eggs containing miracidia. Observations on worm pairing, cross-copulation, and the absence of autocopulation suggest cross-insemination as the prevalent mode of reproduction in double-worm infections. Eggs containing miracidia were first seen in flukes from 7-day-old doubleand 9-day-old single-infections and the number of such eggs was markedly reduced in the latter. Experiments reviewed by Bacha (1966), Nollen (1968), and Fan and Chiang (1970) indicate that certain species of hermaphroditic digenetic trematodes are capable of producing eggs containing miracidia in situations that preclude cross-insemination, presumably by self-fertilization or parthenogenesis. Using autoradiographic techniques Nollen (1968) demonstrated that although Philophthalmus megalurus adults are capable of self-insemination, the usual mode of reproduction is cross-insemination when more than one worm is present. The purpose of this study was to determine if Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae adults are capable of self-insemination and the production of eggs containing miracidia in situations that preclude cross-insemination, and to examine reproduction in flukes permitted to cross-inseminate. Results of observations on reproduction in singleand double-worm infections of L. constantiae in the domestic chick are presented herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metacercariae were dissected from uteri of naturally infected Campeloma decisum snails (Mueller, 1935; Allison, 1943) collected in Jenning's Lake, Camden County, New Jersey. Fresh larvae or those stored for up to 2 days in Ringer's at 10 C with no apparent decrease in viability were used. The cloacal drop method of Allison (1943) was used to expose 121 1to 2-day-old domestic chicks Received for publication 9 February 1971. * Supported in part by a research grant from The Lafayette College Committee on Advanced Study and Research. t Present address: Institute for Pathobiology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015. anesthetized with Equi-Thesin (Fried and Berry, 1961) to either 1 or 2 metacercariae per chick (Tables I, II). Chicks were necropsied 7 to 10 days postexposure and the bursa of Fabricius was removed and inverted in Ringer's. Following in situ observations each worm was examined live under light coverslip pressure within 1 to 2 min of its removal. To assess development, each worm's uterus was teased in 1 to 2 ml of Ringer's and 100 to 200 eggs per worm examined at random. Fully developed eggs, i.e., those containing a pear-shaped miracidium (Allison, 1943) were scored and tabulated in percentage per worm (Tables I, II).

Effects of Copper on Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, Physa integra, and Campeloma decisum in Soft Water

Three invertebrate species were subjected to acute (96-hr), followed by long-term (6-week) copper exposures under continuous-flow bioassay conditions. Survival, growth, reproduction, and feeding were the responses used for measuring toxicant effects. The average 96-hr median tolerance limits (TLm) values for Campeloma decisum, Physa integra, and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus were 1.7, 0.039, and 0.020 mg/liter total copper, respectively. The total copper concentration having no effect after 6 weeks exposure for all three species was between 8.0 and 14.8 μg/liter. The newly hatched amphipods obtained from the second 6-week study were exposed to copper for 9 additional weeks, and grew to the adult stage only in copper concentrations ≤ 4.6 μg/liter. After 5 weeks exposure to a water system, survival of newly hatched Gammarus was markedly reduced when copper concentrations were between 12.9 and 6.2 μg/liter.

Chronic effects of linear alkylate sulfonate detergent on Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, Campeloma decisum and Physa integra

Three invertebrate species were submitted to acute (96 hr) followed by chronic (6 week) detergent exposures. The average 96 hr TL m values for Campeloma decisum, Physa integra, and Gammarus pseudolimnaeus were 27, 9 and 7 mg/l linear alkylate sulfonate (LAS) respectively. Newly hatched amphipods that were recovered after termination of the second 6 week study were further exposed to the detergent for 15 additional weeks, thus enabling more than one generation cycle to be tested under toxicant stress. Survival, growth, reproduction, feeding, and mobility were the responses used for determining the chronic toxicant effects. Under the test conditions described, the maximum acceptable LAS concentrations for Gammarus pseudolimnaeus and Campeloma decisum were between 0.2–0.4 and 0.4–1.0 mg/l respectively. Responses by Physa integra were not significantly altered under the chronic test concentrations.

Additions to and Distributional Annotations on the Kansas Gastropod Fauna

Campeloma decisum (Say) Numerous living adults were secured from Shoal Creek, south of Galena, Cherokee County, between the dates of 21:X:1962 and 22:VI: 1962. This is a mud-brurowing, dioecious and viviparous species which is distrubuted throughout the entire length of Shoal Creek but usually associated with the silty mud that accumulates about the roots of Dianthera americana. We found it in no other type of habitat. Since there are relatively few reports on the biology of Campeloma some data are included here. Parthenogenesis has been demonstrated or intimated in this and other species of the genus by the studies of van Cleave and Altringer (1937) (no males in 1500 C. rufum), Mattox (1938) (no males in 700 C. rufum) and Chamberlain (1958) (no males in over 800 C. decisum). On the othet hand, Baker (1928) found males in Wisconsin populations of C. decisum but in the very low ratio of 1:99. In 470 specimens, from various Missouri and Kansas localities in Shoal Creek, about two females to every male, verified by dissection, were observed. Of 30 specimens, sampled at random, 11 were males and 19 were females. All of the females contained embryos in various stages of development, the number per adult being roughly a function of size (Table 1). The smallest embryos are located in the upper part of the uterus, averaging about 1.0 X 1.0 mm in size and having one and onehalf whorls. The young snails progressively increase in size as they move towards the birth pore, averaging 3.5 x 3.3 mm and two and threefourths whorls near the middle of the uterine length and 5.0 X 4.4 mm with three and one-fourth whorls near its ventral end. These figures are based upon 277 embryos and compare very closely with observations made by Baker (1928) on 264 embryos. Baker also found four sinistral embryos but I found none. The average number of embryos for the Kansas-Missouri specimens is 9.23, a figure near the 9.4 found by Baker (1928) in Wisconsin.

NOTES ON THE LIFE-CYCLE OF AZYGIA ACUMINATA GOLDBERGER, 1911 (AZYGIIDAE-TREMATODA)

1. Stages in the life-cycle of Azygia acuminata are described and figured. Cystocercous cercariae develop from rediae in the snail, Campeloma decisum. The cercaria is morphologically distinct from other described cystocercous cercariae. Rediae are similar to the same stage described for other members of the genus, but are unique since they develop in the uterus of female Campeloma decisum.2. The excretory system of the cercaria is complex, showing a formula of 2 (11 x 32) or 704 flame cells for the distome portion and 2 (5 x 32) or 320 flame cells in the tail. The excretory formula of the cercariae is thus 2 (16 x 32) or 1,024 flame cells.3. Attempts to experimentally infect small snails, taken from the uterus of a Campeloma decisum, by feeding them eggs of A. acuminata were not successful.4. Various small fishes were utilized as paratenic hosts by the young distomes. Infections in sticklebacks, Eucalia inconstans, and small eels, Anguilla rostrata, resulted in more active and vigorous worms than did infe...

Ecological Aspects of Dispersal of the Snail Campeloma Decisum

Ecological Aspects of Dispersal of the Snail Campeloma Decisum

Treatment of Potter's Lake, New Brunswick, with Rotenone

Potterˈs Lake, of 113 acres surface area, was treated with 1,100 pounds of derris powder containing 5 per cent rotenone on July 24, 1939. The resulting concentration, if even distribution was secured, was slightly in excess of 0.5 p.p.m. derris, or 0.025 p.p.m. rotenone. The distribution was made by placing the derris powder in coarse gunny sacks and towing these behind row boats. The powder forms a cake in water and a gentle kneading of the sacks was required to insure proper dispersion. Algae, rooted aquatic vegetation, rotifers, Hydracarina and most immature aquatic insects survived. Planktonic microcrustaceans, Chaoborus larvae, a snail, Campeloma decisum, and one species of leech were killed. The microcrustaceans and Chaoborus larvae were again plentiful in the spring of 1940. About 25,700 fish, large and small, were killed. The following species were involved: Anguilla rostrata, Catostomus commersonnii, Ameiurus nebulosus, Esox niger, Micropterus dolomieu, Lepomis gibbosus, Morone americana and Perca flavescens. A few fry of Catostomus, Esox and Perca were present in the lake in 1940, indicating an upward migration around a barrier in the outlet at flood time or a survival in the lake.

A New Harmostome Adolescaria from Campeloma decisum Say

During April and May, I933, large numbers of a gastropod, Campeloma decisum Say, were collected at Constantia, N. Y., from a pond formed by a dam across Frederick Creek, and serving as a reservoir for the operations of the State Fish Hatchery. All of the snails collected proved to be females,1 and were found to be IOO per cent infested with a larval trematode belonging to the Harmostomidae. This larva was in the adolescaria stage, and lay packed in large numbers in the uterus of the snail. The worms were especially abundant in the proximal portion of the uterus, but were also numerous in the lower portion of the tube where they found lodgement between the developing young. They were both free in the lumen and attached to the wall by means of their suckers, and not surrounded by a cyst. Depending upon the size of the host from OO to 400 worms occurred in a single snail. In other species of this group the transfer of the adolescaria from the snail to the final host is accomplished when the latter eats the former. If this method of transfer applies in the present case then the final host must be some bird or mammal that occasionally feeds upon Campeloma. The worms are slow moving but very muscular, and have considerable powers of extension and contraction. For the most part when undisturbed they lie motionless at nearly full length upon the bottom of a dish of tap water. In life the larva is of a ruddy color. Seen in mass through the translucent walls of the oviduct they impart a salmon pink tinge to the organ.