The influence of temperature on the survival and infectivity of the cercariae of Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Digenea : Echinostomatidae)

Survival and infectivity characteristics are described for cercariae of the echinostome Echinoparyphium recurvatum at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C. Cercarial survival was markedly age- and temperature-dependent, maximum su rvival time being reduced from 68 h at 10 degrees C to 12 h at 30 degrees C , 50 %, survival times falling from 47.9 h at 10 degrees C to 8.4 h at 30 d egrees C. The mean instantaneous per capita death rate of cercariae increas ed exponentially with temperature. Cercarial infectivity was also temperatu re dependent, the main effect of temperature being upon the rate at which i nfectivity diminished with increasing age of cercariae. Infectivity increas ed from zero at 10 degrees C to a maximum at 25 degrees C after which it de clined to a low level at 30 degrees C. Overall transmission efficiency of c ercariae at each experimental temperature was calculated as the ratio of th e mean instantaneous per capita death rate (mu) to the mean instantaneous p er capita rate of infection (<(beta)over bar>). Transmission efficiency of cercariae was found to be maximal at 20 degrees C and at a relatively high level between 10 and 25 degrees C. Transmission efficiency was zero at 10 d egrees C and at a very low level at 30 degrees C. These results suggest tha t the cercariae of E. recurvatum show transmission optima at water temperat ures likely to be encountered in natural habitats in Britain and Europe.