Eastern Mud Snails with Parasitic Cysts
Research by Russell L Burke of Hofstra University
The pictures are of eastern mudsnails, Ilyanassa obsoleta, which is the intermediate host for the trematode Pleurogonius malaclemys. The trematode’s definitive host is the brackish water diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). The pearl-like disks on the snail’s operculum are metacercarial cysts of P. malaclemys. When the snail is eaten by a terrapin, the cysts open, releasing the trematode, which moves to the terrapin’s intestine.
Fluorescence Kit: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/excitation-filters...
Illuminated with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product-category/imaging-p...
Imaged with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/the-macropod-pro-m...
MORE INFORMATION
Images in this gallery were captured by:
Mark Smith M.S. Geoscientist mark@macroscopicsolutions.com
Annette Evans Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut annette@macroscopicsolutions.com
Eastern Mud Snails with Parasitic Cysts
Research by Russell L Burke of Hofstra University
The pictures are of eastern mudsnails, Ilyanassa obsoleta, which is the intermediate host for the trematode Pleurogonius malaclemys. The trematode’s definitive host is the brackish water diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). The pearl-like disks on the snail’s operculum are metacercarial cysts of P. malaclemys. When the snail is eaten by a terrapin, the cysts open, releasing the trematode, which moves to the terrapin’s intestine.
Fluorescence Kit: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/excitation-filters...
Illuminated with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product-category/imaging-p...
Imaged with: macroscopicsolutions.com/store/product/the-macropod-pro-m...
MORE INFORMATION
Images in this gallery were captured by:
Mark Smith M.S. Geoscientist mark@macroscopicsolutions.com
Annette Evans Ph.D. Student at the University of Connecticut annette@macroscopicsolutions.com