The use of fluorescent fatty acid analogs as labels in trematode experimental infections

Title
The use of fluorescent fatty acid analogs as labels in trematode experimental infections
Publication Date
2008
Author(s)
Keeney, Devon B
Lagrue, Clement
Bryan-Walker, Kim
Khan, Nicola
Leung, Tommy
Poulin, Robert
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Academic Press
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1016/j.exppara.2008.04.010
UNE publication id
une:9055
Abstract
We examined the utility of fluorescent fatty acid analog dyes for labeling larval trematodes to use in experimental infections. Our goals were to identify two dyes that label larval trematodes belonging to the species 'Maritrema novaezealandensis' and 'Coitocaecum parvum', determine if the dyes influence survival and infectivity of larval trematodes and/or host mortality, and if larval trematodes labeled with alternative dyes could be distinguished post-infection. The two dyes tested, BODIPY FL C₁₂ and BODIPY 558/568 C₁₂, successfully labeled all treated larval trematodes, did not influence cercariae survival or infectivity, and did not influence host mortality in either host-parasite system. All larval parasites were fluorescent and distinguishable after 5 days in amphipod intermediate hosts. In addition, larval 'Acanthoparyphium' sp. were strongly fluorescent with both dyes after 5 weeks within cockle hosts. This method should be extremely useful for experimental studies using trematode-host systems as models for addressing a range of ecological and evolutionary questions.
Link
Citation
Experimental Parasitology, 120(1), p. 15-20
ISSN
1090-2449
0014-4894
Start page
15
End page
20

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