Wormy mice in a hybrid zone.

As one approach to analysing the genetic barriers between species, we studied the numbers and types of parasitic worms in two species of house mice (Mus musculus and M. domesticus) and in their natural hybrids. Where the ranges of these two species meet in southern Germany, there is a zone of hybridization less than 20 kilometres across, in which about 98% of the mice have backcross genotypes. Fourteen of the 46 mice tested from within the zone have over 500 pinworms per gut, a number far exceeding the mean of 40 per gut for other mice inside and outside the zone. Other nematodes have a similar, non-random distribution. The number of mice bearing 9 or more tapeworms per gut is also excessive in the hybrid zone. These extraordinarily wormy mice may be unusually susceptible to parasitism; the different species may have different genes for resistance, and recombinant backcross animals may lose both. Our findings support the view that the hybrid populations may have reduced fitness and thereby act as a genetic sink, interfering with the flow of genes between the two species. The possibility that environmental or ecological peculiarites in the zone of hybridization make the mice more liable to infection is not supported.

Schistosomiasis in an American medical investigator.

A 42-year-old American male researcher contracted schistosomiasis from environmental sources in the course of his observations on human behavior in Upper Egypt. After a long asymptomatic period, he developed various symptoms and Schistosoma haematobium was found in a urine examination. After treatment with Metrifonate, urine examination became negative. However, abdominal pain persisted and most diagnostic tests were negative. Colonoscopic examination and biopsy of the mucosa revealed schistosomiasis. Treatment with Praziquantel was thoroughly effective in clearing the persistent Schistosoma haematobium infection. It is necessary to maintain a high index of suspicion in cases of potential schistosomiasis. The availability of nontoxic treatment is discussed.

Use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Entamoeba histolytica antigen in faecal samples.

A promising new ELISA method developed by Root et al. to diagnose amoebiasis by the detection of Entamoeba histolytica coproantigen was tested in Mexico City and was reported to be more than twice as sensitive as microscopy. In this study the same procedure was compared to microscopy for paired specimens from 107 patients in San Francisco. Microscopy was more than twice as sensitive as ELISA: of 12 specimens positive by microscopy only 5 were also positive by ELISA. The ELISA did not detect a single specimen not detected by microscopy. Over-all, there was a 93% agreement between the two tests: 5% were positive and 89% negative by both tests. Possible reasons for the differences in the San Francisco and Mexican City findings are discussed.

The ultrastructure of the amebocyte-producing organ in Biomphalaria glabrata.

The amebocyte-producing organ (APO) in normal and echinostome-sensitized Biomphalaria glabrata was studied at the ultrastructural level. The APO in unexposed snails consists of small clusters of primary ameboblasts resting on the epithelial cells lining the pericardium. The ameboblasts are held in a loose reticulum formed by extensions from smooth muscle and few fibroblastic cells. Secondary ameboblasts and amebocytes constitute further stages of this cell line. Amebocytes, resembling cells in the snail's circulation, appear in the blood sinus coursing through the interior of the APO. Exposure of snails to echinostome miracidia results in significant morphological changes in the organ. Large clusters of primary and and secondary ameboblasts appear, many of these cells undergoing mitosis. Fully activated APOs consist of masses of cells loosely arranged in zones of progressive maturation. Blood cells in activated APOs were significantly larger than those seen in normal APOs.

Further characterization of acquired resistance in Biomphalaria glabrata.

The albino strain of Biomphalaria glabrata is capable of developing an acquired resistance to echinostomes that is relatively specific, i.e., strong against Echinostoma lindoense, challenged by the homologous species, moderate or weak against closely related E. paraensei and E. liei, and nonexistent against Paryphostomum segregatum and Schistosoma mansoni. The present results show that acquired resistance induced by E. paraensei is much stronger against the heterologous E. lindoense than against the homologous species. These observations indicate that although the response of snails with acquired resistance to a challenge exposure is relatively specific, the stimuli for inducing that resistance may be nonspecific.

Selective interference with granulocyte function induced by Echinostoma paraensei (Trematoda) larvae in Biomphalaria glabrata (Mollusca).

Various trematode larvae can interfere with the host snail's resistance to the same or unrelated trematode species, chiefly, it appears by interference with the function of the host's granulocytes. In Biomphalaria glabrata infected with the trematodes, Echinostoma paraensei, granulocytes lose their ability to encapsulate the larvae of trematodes to which the hosts were previously resistant. However, the granulocytes in these snails retain their ability to encapsulate injected latex spheres, or larvae of the metastrongyle nematode, Angiostrongylus malaysiensis, and to phagocytose epidermal plates cast off by miracidia of the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni. Cellular infiltration in injured preputial tissue of the snail also was not suppressed by the presence of E. paraensei larvae. Interference with the granulocyte function in B. glabrata induced by E. paraensei infection therefore appears to be a selective phenomenon.

Tissue reactions induced by Schistosoma mansoni in Biomphalaria glabrata.

In Biomphalaria glabrata with a strong natural resistance, Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts are rapidly encapsulated by granulocytes and killed, mainly by the strong phagocytic activity of the cells. Irradiated Echinostoma paraensei sporocysts seem able to suppress the function of the granulocytes. Tissue reactions in snails with self-cure demonstrate: involvement of two types of cells, granulocytes and hyalinocyte-like cells; formation of amoeba-fibrous capsules; limited tendency of granulocytes to become attracted to the parasites; a slow process of parasite destruction; and a possible involvement of humoral factors. It seems that there is partial suppression of the granulocyte function in smails with self-cure.