The protection afforded by the outer layer to procercoids of Schistocephalus solidus during passage through the stomach lumen of their vertebrate host (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Intestinal cestodes with complex life cycles have to pass through the acid stomach lumen of their vertebrate host(s) in order to reach their preferred site of development. The cestode’s tegument is the only organ in constant contact with this hostile environment. Procercoids of Schistocephalus solidus (order Diphyllobothriidea) lose their outer layer on passing through the acidic stomach of their second intermediate host (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We wanted to investigate if the outer layer is an adaptation that enables passage through this hostile environment. We used fish bile to force the procercoid larvae to shed their outer layer. This allowed us to compare the survival of the normal procercoids and the transformed ones when exposed to hydrochloric acid. We observed that the presence of the outer layer significantly improved the survival and active period of the procercoid larvae. Thus we conclude that in cestodes which inhabit the digestive tracts of vertebrates, the outer layer is an adaptation which enables them to pass through the acidic stomach environment of their vertebrate host(s).

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► Fish bile was used to force procercoid larvae to shed the outer layer.
► Acid was used to imitate the physiological conditions of the fish host stomach.
► Presence of the outer layer significantly increased active period and survival.
► A distinct physiological response was observed in larvae exposed to acid.