Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Egg Morphology, Dispersal, And Transmission In Acanthocephalan Parasites: Integrating Phylogenetic And Ecological Approaches, Alana C. Pfenning
Egg Morphology, Dispersal, And Transmission In Acanthocephalan Parasites: Integrating Phylogenetic And Ecological Approaches, Alana C. Pfenning
College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations
Acanthocephalans are endoparasites that infect arthropods as intermediate hosts and vertebrates as definitive hosts and are found in diverse habitats (freshwater, marine, terrestrial) throughout the world. Free-living eggs are expelled from the definitive host into the environment, which are then consumed by an intermediate host. Once ingested by the intermediate host the parasite undergoes a series of developmental stages, the final stage is infectious to the definitive host. Transmission to a definitive host occurs when the predator consumes an intermediate host containing an infectious parasite. The parasites reach sexual maturity within the definitive host. Most research to date has focused …
Parasite-Related Modification Of Multiple Traits In An Isopod Host, Tracey J. Park
Parasite-Related Modification Of Multiple Traits In An Isopod Host, Tracey J. Park
College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations
Parasites are organisms that live on or in hosts, which they typically require to complete their life cycles. Acanthocephalus dirus is an acanthocephalan parasite that exhibits an indirect life cycle that requires two hosts, with a Caecidotea intermedius isopod as the intermediate host and fishes as the definitive hosts, in order to complete its life cycle. Infected C. intermedius individuals have been observed to have altered hiding behavior, in which they have an increased amount of time exposed to predators. Also, infected C. intermedius individuals have demonstrated an increase in activity patterns, which could increase their conspicuousness to visual predators. …