The relationship between the density of Fasciola hepatica miracidia and the net rate of miracidial infections in Lymnaea truncatula

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Experimental studies on the dynamics of infection of Lymnaea truncatula by the miracidia of Fasciola hepatica show that there is a linear relationship between the net rate of attachment of miracidia to snail epithelium and the density of infective stages. The probability of a snail remaining uninfected after exposure to a single miracidium varies with the size class of the snail. Under the conditions of the experiment (temperature, 15° C; exposure period, 30 min; water volume, 8 ml), the probability was 0·46–0·48, 0·27–0·26 and 0·13–0·19 for snail size classes, 0·5–2·9, 3·0-5·9 and 6·0-8·9 mm respectively.