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Effects of copper and zinc on the life cycle of Notocotylus attenuatus (Digenea: Notocotylidae)

1982; Elsevier BV; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0020-7519(82)90040-6

1879-0135

N. A. Evans,

Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies

Evans N. A. 1982. Effects of copper and zinc on the life cycle of Notocotylus attenuatus (Digenea: Notocotylidae). International Journal for Parasitology12: 363–369. The toxicity of copper and zinc to cercariae and metacercarial cysts of Notocotylus attenuatus was extremely low. The infectivity of cysts was not reduced even after exposure to high metal concentrations (10.0 p.p.m.) for six weeks whilst the encystment of cercariae was significantly impaired only by 10.0 p.p.m. of copper and by concentrations of zinc greater than 4.0 p.p.m. Metal-induced death of cercariae occurred most frequently during their attempts to encyst. Cercarial shedding from the first intermediate host Lymnaea peregra was, in contrast, substantially reduced by even low concentrations (0.1 p.p.m.) of both metals. Water hardness had a low influence on copper and zinc toxicity.