The pathological effects of sporocysts, rediae and metacercariae on the digestive gland of Bithynia tentaculata (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

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Abstract
The uninfected digestive gland of Bithynia tentaculata consists of three main cell types: ‘absorptive’ cells, ‘thin’ cells and ‘secretory’ cells. With infection by sporocysts, rediae, or metacercaria, pressure effects caused a reduction in the lumen of the digestive gland tubules and this probably resulted in a starvation autolysis. Some tubules recovered from infection and in such cases there was a reduction in the height of the epithelium. A migration of the digestive gland nuclei was only evident in redial infections and this may have been due to the toxic effects of rediae. In addition, rediae directly ingested host digestive gland tissue.The digestive gland was reduced to about two-thirds of its normal size in all heavily infected snails. Secretory cells of the gland were more resistant to infection than were the absorptive or thin cells.I am indebted to Dr F. R. Stranack for her supervision and guidance throughout this investigation, and to Dr G. Charles and Dr T. Jenkins for their continued help and advice. This study was carried out during the tenure of a Research Assistantship awarded by the Governors of Portsmouth Polytechnic.

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