effect of xiphidiocercarial infection on the ventricular blood pressure of lanistes carinatus

ABSTRACT

Measurements of the blood pressure from the ventricle of both uninfected Lanistes carinatus and those parasitized with xiphidiocercariae were made in order to determine whether the infection affects the circulatory pressure in L. carinatus. Using ink writing oscillograph [Washington 400 MD 2] the ventricular blood pressures were recorded for 22 uninfected specimens and 16 parasitized with xiphidiocercariae. Parasitized L. carinatus showed a significantly lower ventricular pressure than uninfected ones. The mean ventricular pulse pressure of uninfected snails was 7.79 cm of water compared with a mean of 5.76 cm of water for parasitized specimen