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Experimental evidence for a new transmission route in a parasitic mite and its mucus-dependent orientation towards the host snail

Schuepbach, H. U. and Baur, B.. (2008) Experimental evidence for a new transmission route in a parasitic mite and its mucus-dependent orientation towards the host snail. Parasitology, Vol. 135, H. 14. pp. 1679-1684.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5248791

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Abstract

The route of transmission and host finding behaviour are fundamental components of a parasite`s fitness. Riccardoella limacum, a haematophagous mite, lives in the mantle cavity of helicid land snails. To date it has been assumed that this parasitic mite is transmitted during Courtship and mating of the host. Here we present experimental evidence for a new transmission route in the host snail Arianta arbustorum. Parasite-free snails were kept on soil on which previously infected host snails had been maintained for 6 weeks. R. limacum was successfully transmitted via soil without physical contact among hosts in 10 out of 22(45.5 examined the off-host locomotion of R. liniacuin on snail Mucus and control substrates using an automated camera system. Parasitic mites showed a preference to move on fresh mucus. Our results support the hypothesis that R. limacum use, mucus trails to locate new hosts. These findings should be considered in commercial snail farming and when examining the epidemiology of wild populations.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Ehemalige Einheiten Umweltwissenschaften > Naturschutzbiologie (Baur)
UniBasel Contributors:Baur, Bruno and Schüpbach, Hans-Ulrich
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:0031-1820
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:22 Mar 2012 14:28
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 14:03

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