Effects of Temperature Stress on Growth and Development of Larval and Adult Telorchis bonnerensis (Trematoda: Telorchiidae)

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Abstract
Cercarial development of T. bonnerensis Waitz, 1960, in the intermediate host, Physa gyrina Say, is modified by maintenance at various constant temperatures of 4, 10, 22, 30, and 37 C. The proportion of snails in which infections developed to cercarial emergence was largest and development was most rapid at 30 C. Cercarial emergence was delayed for a period of 152 days at 10C, but could be modified by transferring the snail host to 30 C where cercariae emerged after 3 days. Growth and developmental rate of adult T. bonnerensis in the definitive host, adult Ambystoma tigrinum Green, 1825, showed similar modification when the host was maintained at constant temperatures of 10, 22 30, and 34 C. At 10 C, development was delayed and adults increased in size only slightly, after 6 weeks. Growth and developmental rate of worms was most rapid at 30 C. At 34 C, maturation rate was equal to that of worms maintained at 30 C, but overall growth was decreased. The deleterious effects of high temperature were indicated by a decrease in overall size of adult worms, reduced egg size, and degeneration of the reproductive structures.