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Changes in growth, secondary sex characteristics, and reproduction of fathead minnows exposed for a life cycle to bleached sulfite mill effluent.

To assess the potential effects of exposure to bleached sulfite mill effluent, long-term fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposures were carried out on-site at the pulp mill secondary treatment lagoons. Exposure concentrations included 0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 50, or 100% final effluent, with the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (10 ng/L) as a positive control compound. Fertilized minnow eggs were hatched in effluent and monitored through 140 d posthatch. The effluent produced a significant increase in the growth (length, weight, condition factor) of female fish (but not male fish). Exposure to high effluent concentrations resulted in a majority of fish with female secondary sex characteristics. Male fish with female characteristics and female fish with male sex characteristics were present at effluent concentrations of > or = 30%, but not in fish exposed to control water from the Saint John River. Effluent exposures (> or = 30%) also produced a reduction in the number of fish with testes, and most fish had ovaries when examined internally. A sensitive and meaningful endpoint was a decrease in reproduction. Fish exposed to 1 - 3% effluent produced a similar number of eggs to control fish; however, exposure to 10% effluent reduced egg production by over 80%. Fish exposed for an entire life cycle to > or = 30% effluent failed to produce eggs. The research demonstrates the feasibility and potential usefulness of on-site flow-through fish life-cycle exposures for the assessment of pulp mill final effluents.

Animals↗

Cellular immune responses of jirds to extracts of life cycle stages and adult excretory secretory products during the early development of Brugia pahangi.

The Brugia-jird model of lymphatic filariasis was used to examine the induction of cellular immune responses during the early premicrofilaremic phases of the infection. The intensity of the pulmonary granulomatous inflammatory response (PGRN) was determined by measuring granuloma areas around Sepharose beads coated with parasite extracts which were embolized in the lungs of jirds prior to necropsy. Necropsies were performed at 7, 14, 28, 56, and 150 days postinfection (DPI). These time points correspond to specific developmental changes in the life cycle. Lymphocyte blastogenesis assays were performed using cells from draining renal lymph nodes and splenocytes at 14 and 150 DPI. Soluble extracts of third stage larvae (L3), fourth stage larvae (L4), adult females, adult males, microfilariae (MF), and excretory secretory products (ES) of males and females were used in both measurements of cellular responsiveness. A marked granulomatous response to parasite extracts peaked at 7 DPI or 14 DPI followed by a gradual decrease to a hyporesponsive state at 120 DPI. The response of renal lymph node cells also was significantly elevated at 14 DPI and significantly decreased at > 150 DPI. The splenocyte responses were erratic and did not follow this pattern. Significant differences in PGRN responses to somatic extract preparations were not seen during the early stages of the infection (7, 14, 28 DPI), but those to MF and L3 were significantly less at 56 and 120 DPI. Although PGRN responses to ES followed a similar pattern, these were less than those to the somatic extract. The data indicated that a rapid, intense cell-mediated inflammatory response is induced early during a primary infection and that this response is rapidly downregulated. This downregulation begins prior to the maturation of adult parasites and microfilarial production. The early phase of the cellular response appears to be compartmentalized in that this response was consistently observed in the renal lymph nodes but not in the spleen. Soluble protein components of the parasites responsible for these responses are likely multiple and shared by all life cycle stages.

Animals↗

Evidence for a switch in the mode of human papillomavirus type 16 DNA replication during the viral life cycle.

The study of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) replication has been impaired because of the lack of a cell culture system that stably maintains viral replication. Recently, cervical epithelial cell populations that stably maintain HPV-16 replicons at a copy number of approximately 1,000 per cell were derived from an HPV-16-infected patient (W12 cell clone 20863 [W12-E cells]). We used neutral/neutral and neutral/alkaline two-dimensional gel electrophoretic techniques to characterize HPV-16 DNA replication in these cells. When W12-E cells were maintained in an undifferentiated state mimicking the nonproductive stage of the life cycle, HPV-16 DNA was found to replicate primarily by theta structures in a bidirectional manner. The initiation site of HPV-16 DNA replication was mapped to approximately nucleotide 100, and the termination site was mapped to between nucleotides 3398 and 5990. To study the productive stage of HPV-16 DNA replication, W12-E cells were grown under culture conditions that promote differentiation of epithelial cell types. Under these conditions, where virus-like particles were detected, the mode of viral DNA replication changed from theta structure to what is apparently a rolling circle mode. Additionally, CIN 612-9E cells, which were derived from an HPV-31-infected patient and harbor HPV-31 extrachromosomally, exhibited the same switch in the mode of DNA replication upon induction of differentiation. These data argue that a fundamental switch in the mechanism of viral DNA replication occurs during the life cycle of the papillomavirus.

Cell Differentiation↗

Life cycle modelling of environmental impacts of application of processed organic municipal solid waste on agricultural land (EASEWASTE).

A model capable of quantifying the potential environmental impacts of agricultural application of composted or anaerobically digested source-separated organic municipal solid waste (MSW) is presented. In addition to the direct impacts, the model accounts for savings by avoiding the production and use of commercial fertilizers. The model is part of a larger model, Environmental Assessment of Solid Waste Systems and Technology (EASEWASTE), developed as a decision-support model, focusing on assessment of alternative waste management options. The environmental impacts of the land application of processed organic waste are quantified by emission coefficients referring to the composition of the processed waste and related to specific crop rotation as well as soil type. The model contains several default parameters based on literature data, field experiments and modelling by the agro-ecosystem model, Daisy. All data can be modified by the user allowing application of the model to other situations. A case study including four scenarios was performed to illustrate the use of the model. One tonne of nitrogen in composted and anaerobically digested MSW was applied as fertilizer to loamy and sandy soil at a plant farm in western Denmark. Application of the processed organic waste mainly affected the environmental impact categories global warming (0.4-0.7 PE), acidification (-0.06 (saving)-1.6 PE), nutrient enrichment (-1.0 (saving)-3.1 PE), and toxicity. The main contributors to these categories were nitrous oxide formation (global warming), ammonia volatilization (acidification and nutrient enrichment), nitrate losses (nutrient enrichment and groundwater contamination), and heavy metal input to soil (toxicity potentials). The local agricultural conditions as well as the composition of the processed MSW showed large influence on the environmental impacts. A range of benefits, mainly related to improved soil quality from long-term application of the processed organic waste, could not be generally quantified with respect to the chosen life cycle assessment impact categories and were therefore not included in the model. These effects should be considered in conjunction with the results of the life cycle assessment.

Agriculture↗

Description of a new species of Maritrema (Digenea:Microphallidae) from Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina) with notes on its life cycle.

Adults of Maritrema bonaerensis n. sp. (Digenea:Microphallidae) were collected from the intestine of the gulls Larus maculipennis and Larus atlanticus from Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The new species differs from M. pulcherrima Travassos, 1928 in having smaller sucker ratio, longer intestinal ceca, ovary not lobed, and larger eggs, and from Maritrema prosthometra Deblock and Heard, 1969 it differs in having larger suckers, smaller vitelline follicles, and in the absence of pars prostatica. It differs from Maritrema acadiae (Swales, 1933) in having larger body and pharynx and longer cirrus. It differs from Maritrema paracadiae Ching, 1974 in the larger pharynx, longer cirrus, and in the absence of prominent prostatic cells. From Maritrema majestova Ke, 1976, it differs in having a larger body, smaller eggs, and a long and protusible cirrus. Finally, M. bonaerensis differs from Maritrema chiricae Deblock, 1975 in the larger body, longer cirrus, and in the morphology of the seminal vesicle. Sporocysts and metacercarial stages isolated from the snail Heleobia australis australis and from the crabs Cyrtograpsus angulatus and Chasmagnatus granulata, respectively, suggest that those invertebrates could act as intermediate host in the life cycle of the new species in the lagoon. This assumption is supported by evidence derived from natural and experimental infections, from studies on biology of the actual and presumed hosts, as well as from previous reports on life cycles of species of Maritrema with similar transmission patterns.

Animals↗

Phylogenetic relationships of Hepatozoon (Haemogregarina) boigae, Hepatozoon sp., Haemogregarina clelandi and Haemoproteus chelodina from Australian reptiles to other Apicomplexa based on cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characters.

The phylogeny of representative haemozoan species of the phylum Apicomplexa was reconstructed by cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characteristics. The analysis incorporated 4 apicomplexans previously not included in phylogenetic reconstructions: Haemogregarina clelandi from the Brisbane River tortoise (Emydura signata), Hepatozoon sp. from the slaty grey snake (Stegonotus cucullatus), Hepatozoon (Haemogregarina) boigae from the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), and Haemoproteus chelodina from the saw-shelled tortoise (Elseya latisternum). There was no apparent correlation between parasite phylogeny and that of their vertebrate hosts, but there appeared to be some relationship between parasites and their intermediate hosts, suggestive of parasite/vector co-evolution.

Animals↗

Endrin: effects on the entire life cycle of a saltwater fish, Cyprinodon variegatus.

The sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) was continuously exposed for 23 wk to the organochlorine insecticide endrin, from the embryonic state through hatching until adulthood and spawing. The resultant progeny were monitored to determine the effects of the toxicant on their survival, growth, and reproduction. Average measured exposure concentrations were O (control), 0.027, 0.077, 0.12, 0.31, and 0.72 microgram/liter. Embryos exposed to 0.31 and 0.72 microgram/liter hatched early; all fry exposed to 0.72 microgram/liter died by day 9 of exposure. At 0.31 microgram/liter, fry were initially stunted and some died. Survivors seemed unaffected until maturity, when some females died during spawning; fewer eggs were fertile and survival of exposed progeny decreased. No significant effects were observed th roughout this fish's life cycle at an exposure concentration of 0.12 microgram/liter. Four-week-old juvenile fish accumulated 2,500 times the concentration of endrin in the exposure water; adults, 6,400 times; and their eggs, 5,700 times. The specific application factor (calculated by dividing the limits on the maximum acceptable toxicant concentration, greater than 0.12 and less than 0.31 microgram/liter, by the concentration lethal to 50% of the juvenile fish in 96 hr, 0.34 microgram/liter) ranged from 0.35 to 0.91. To our knowledge this is the first toxicity test carried out through the entire life cycle of an oviporous esturarine fish. Data from this experiment and from experiments with another estuarine fish and four freshwater fish all demonstrate that there is little difference between endrin concentrations that produce acute effects and concentrations that do not affect the fish in chronic exposures lasting four or more weeks.

Age Factors↗

Analysis of the life cycle of the soil saprophyte Bacillus cereus in liquid soil extract and in soil.

Bacillus is commonly isolated from soils, with organisms of Bacillus cereus sensu lato being prevalent. Knowledge of the ecology of B. cereus and other Bacillus species in soil is far from complete. While the older literature favors a model of growth on soil-associated organic matter, the current paradigm is that B. cereus sensu lato germinates and grows in association with animals or plants, resulting in either symbiotic or pathogenic interactions. An in terra approach to study soil-associated bacteria is described, using filter-sterilized soil-extracted soluble organic matter (SESOM) and artificial soil microcosms (ASM) saturated with SESOM. B. cereus ATCC 14579 displayed a life cycle, with the ability to germinate, grow, and subsequently sporulate in both the liquid SESOM extract and in ASM inserted into wells in agar medium. Cells grew in liquid SESOM without separating, forming multicellular structures that coalesced to form clumps and encasing the ensuing spores in an extracellular matrix. Bacillus was able to translocate from the point of inoculation through soil microcosms as shown by the emergence of outgrowths on the surrounding agar surface. Microscopic inspection revealed bundles of parallel chains inside the soil. The motility inhibitor L-ethionine failed to suppress outgrowth, ruling out translocation by a flagellar-mediated mechanism such as swimming or swarming. Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Marburg and four Bacillus isolates taken at random from soils also displayed a life cycle in SESOM and ASM and were all able to translocate through ASM, even in presence of L-ethionine. These data indicate that B. cereus is a saprophytic bacterium that is able to grow in soil and furthermore that it is adapted to translocate by employing a multicellular mode of growth.

Bacillus cereus↗

Frequent changes in the number of reiterated ribosomal RNA genes throughout the life cycle of the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus.

We have examined the stability of the tandemly repeated genes that encode the ribosomal RNA in Coprinus cinereus. These genes are contained within two linked HindIII fragments in a 3.0-Mb chromosome. We monitored the size of these fragments in both mitotic and meiotic segregants using the contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) method. No length changes were observed in the smaller HindIII fragment (100 kb; 10 repeats) among the DNAs prepared from 46 asexual spore derivatives (oidia) or 128 meiotic segregants (basidiospores from 32 tetrads). However, the larger HindIII fragment (1100 kb; 120 repeats) did exhibit variability. Substantial changes, involving up to 40% of the larger HindIII fragment were recorded in 7 of 46 oidial isolates (including 4 of 22 transformed derivatives). To learn if the changes were confined to the vegetative portion of the life cycle, we examined transmission of HindIII variants through three crosses. In the first two crosses (16 tetrads total), no changes were observed in the large HindIII fragment. However, in the third cross (16 tetrads), each tetrad showed at least one alteration. In half of the tetrads from the third cross, the altered patterns segregated 2:2, suggesting that the changes occurred after mating but prior to premeiotic DNA replication. We conclude that breakage and rejoining reactions within the rDNA are frequent and are not confined to any particular stage of the life cycle. It also appears that certain repeats are sheltered from these events. Finally, marked differences in rDNA stability were observed in the cross analyzed.

Coprinus↗

Life-cycles of cestodes of the genus Branchiopodataenia Bondarenko & Kontrimavichus, 2004 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) from gulls in Chukotka.

Data are presented on the life-cycles and the postembryonal development of four species of Branchiopodataenia Bondarenko & Kontrimavichus, 2004, B. anaticapicirra Bondarenko & Kontrimavichus, 2004, B. arctowskii (Jarecka & Ostas, 1984), B. haldemani (Schiller, 1951) and B. pacifica (Spassky & Jurpalova, 1968), which are specific parasites of gulls. The investigation was carried out in Chukotka (Chaun Bay) between 1971 and 1981 under natural and experimental conditions. Branchiopod crustaceans were exclusive natural and experimental intermediate hosts of all of the species studied; this fact provided additional evidence for the erection of Branchiopodataenia. The metacestodes exhibit a pattern of postembryonal development and a typical larval form, termed a 'cercocyst', which is a modification of a cysticercoid. This modification of the metacestode does not occur in species of Wardium Mayhew, 1925, the genus with which species of Branchiopodataenia had previously been affiliated.

Animals↗

Evidence for dual effects of DNA-reactive bile acid derivatives (Bamets) on hepatitis B virus life cycle in an in vitro replicative system.

A liver targeting strategy to direct antiviral drugs toward hepatitis B virus (HBV) was investigated. As model drugs we used cisplatin-bile acid derivatives (Bamets) to determine the production of virions by HBV-transfected hepatoblastoma cells (HepG2 2.2.15). Drug uptake was determined using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry to measure platinum cell contents. Cytotoxic effect was determined by formazan formation and neutral red uptake tests. The release of viral surface protein was evaluated by ELISA. The abundance of HBV-DNA in the medium was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and its structure by Southern blot analysis. The uptake of Bamets by HepG2 2.2.15 cells was higher than that of cisplatin. At concentrations lower than 10 microM, distinct Bamets have no toxic effect on host cells, whereas cisplatin dramatically reduced cell viability at concentrations higher than 1 microM. All the drugs tested inhibited the release of viral proteins to the medium, but induced a marked and progressive dose-dependent increase in the amount of viral DNA in the medium. This was mainly due to the release of short fragments of HBV-DNA in the case of cisplatin. On the contrary, Bamets induced an enhanced release of circular forms of HBV-DNA. These findings suggest the existence of a dual effect of Bamets on HBV life-cycle by enhancing the production of DNA replicative intermediates but reducing the secretion of complete virions. Altogether these characteristics recommend consideration of these compounds as a useful experimental tool in the investigation of novel liver targeted therapeutic agents based on bile acid derivatives for the treatment of HBV infections, or to carry out further studies on the HBV life cycle.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

In vitro life cycle of pentamidine-resistant amastigotes: stability of the chemoresistant phenotypes is dependent on the level of resistance induced.

Using a continuous drug pressure protocol, we induced pentamidine resistance in an active and dividing population of amastigote forms of Leishmania mexicana. We selected in vitro two clones with different levels of resistance to pentamidine, with clone LmPENT5 being resistant to 5 microM pentamidine, while clone LmPENT20 was resistant to 20 microM pentamidine. Resistance indexes (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] after drug presure/IC50 before drug pressure) of 2 (LmPENT5) and 6 (LmPENT20) were determined after drug selection. Both resistant clones expressed significant cross-resistance to diminazene aceturate and primaquine. Pentamidine resistance was not reversed by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker known to reverse multidrug resistance (A. J. Bitonti, et al., Science 242:1301-1303, 1988; A. R. C. Safa et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:7884-7888, 1987). No difference in the in vitro infectivity for resident mouse macrophages was observed between the wild-type clone (clone LmWT) and pentamidine-resistant clones. During in vitro infectivity experiments, when the life cycle was performed starting from the intramacrophagic amastigote stage, the drug resistance of the resulting LmPENT20 amastigotes was preserved even if the intermediate promastigote stage could not be considered resistant to 20 microM pentamidine. In the same way, when a complete developmental sequence of L. mexicana was achieved axenically by manipulation of appropriate culture conditions, the resulting axenically grown LmPENT20 amastigotes remained pentamidine resistant, whereas LmPENT5 amastigotes lost their ability to resist pentamidine, with IC50s and index of resistance values close to those for the LmWT clone. These results strongly indicate that the level of pentamidine tolerated by resistant amastigotes after the life cycle was dependent on the induced level of resistance. This fact could be significant in the in vivo transmission of drug-resistant parasites by Phlebotominae. Particular attention should be given to the finding that the emergence of parasite resistance is a potential risk of the use of inadequate doses as therapy in humans.

Animals↗

Presentation by scanning electron microscopy of the life cycle of microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon.

This paper presents, for the first time, documentation by detailed scanning electron microscopy of the life cycle of microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon. Phase 1 is represented by the extracellular phase with mature spores liberated by the rupture of host cells. To infect new cells the spores have to discharge their polar filament. Spores with everted tubes show that these are helically coiled. When the polar tubules have started to penetrate into a host cell they are incomplete in length. The infection of a host cell can also be initiated by a phagocytic process of the extruded polar filament into an invagination channel of the host cell membrane. After the penetration process, the tube length is completed by polar tube protein which passes through the tube in the shape of swellings. A completely discharged polar tube with its tip is also shown. The end of a polar tube is normally hidden in the cytoplasm of the host cell. After completion of the tube length the transfer of the sporoplasm occurs and phase 2 starts. Phase 2 is the proliferative phase, or merogony, with the intracellular development of the parasite that cannot be documented by scanning electron microscopy. The subsequent intracellular phase 3, or sporogony, starts when the meronts transform into sporonts, documented as chain-like structures which subdivide into sporoblasts. The sporoblasts finally transform directly into spores which can be seen in their host cell, forming bubble-like swellings in the cell surface.

Animals↗

[The possibility of completing the life cycle of Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) and Contracaecum rudolphii (Hartwich, 1964) (Nematoda) at the waters of Vistula Lagoon].

The probabilities of completing the life cycle of Hysterothylacium aduncum and Contracaecum rudolphii at the water of Vistula Lagoon was considered. Hysterothylacium aduncum is a parasite of some fish species from Vistula Lagoon and Contracaecum rudolphii is common parasite of cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo from colony of Katy Rybackie.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Developmental stage-specific life-cycle bioassay for assessment of sediment-associated toxicant effects on benthic copepod production.

In chronic bioassays of sediment organic compounds, toxicant exposures often decline through time, such that the beginning of a test yields disproportionately higher exposures than the end. Thus, those life stages initiating a test often are exposed to the highest concentrations, and for rapidly maturing test fauna, this may lead to varying conclusions regarding compound toxicities depending on the initial life stage chosen. This problem can be addressed by comparative full life-cycle tests initiated with different test-organism life stages. Thus, a full life stage-to-life stage toxicity test was developed for the rapidly maturing meiobenthic copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis to assess the importance of developmental stage at the onset of sediment toxicant exposure relative to reproduction, net population growth, and sex and age structure. Tests were conducted with a model spiked-sediment insecticide, chlorpyrifos, for each of the major life stages (P1) of A. tenuiremis (nauplius, copepodite, and adult). Each P1 stage was allowed to mature and reproduce in low chlorpyrifos concentrations (6-33% of stage-specific 96-h LC50s; 4-22 ng chlorpyrifos/g dry sediment) for 26 d. Test endpoints were numbers of surviving adult females, males, eggs per female (clutch), first generation (F1) nauplii, F1 copepodites, F1 total production, and realized F1 production per surviving female. Only the copepodite P1 test showed a significant decline in survival of an adult age class: females declined by 28% at 22 ng/g. Reductions in total production ranged from 33-96% of controls from nauplius to adult. The P1 naupliar stage was most sensitive, with F1 production being 33-47% of that in controls. However, on a realized production per female basis, both the copepodite and naupliar P1 yielded significantly reduced F1s of 23 and 40% of controls at 11 and 22 ng/g.

Animals↗

The course of respiration during the life cycle of Chlorella cells.

Endogenous and glucose respiration were studied during the life history of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. A generalized picture of the course of respiration during the life cycle is suggested. At the liberation of daughter cells from the wall of the mother cell, or soon after, the respiration rate reaches its lowest level. If the daughter cells are placed in light the respiration rate rapidly increases with time, soon reaches a maximum, and then declines slowly. Two factors are important in the initial increase-the early developmental stage of the cells and the influence of light. In autotrophically developing algae the parts played by developmental processes and by light have not been separated. Direct activation of respiratory enzymes by light, in addition to the level of respiratory substrate, cannot be excluded. The decline of respiration rate over most of the cell history seems to have no connection with light and is probably bound to the developmental processes per se. Darkening the suspension interrupts growth and induces liberation of daughter cells, with concomitant faster decrease in respiration rate. The rate of respiration of small daughter cells decreases in darkness only slowly with time. Illumination seems necessary to bring these cells back to a high level of respiratory activity.

Cell Respiration↗

Life cycle of Eimeria krijgsmanni-like coccidium in the mouse (Mus musculus).

Life cycle of Eimeria krijgsmanni-like coccidium isolated from the feces of naturally infected mice purchased from commercial sources was examined. The parasite was purified by single oocyst isolation and maintained by passage in the mice before experiments. The sporulated oocysts were ovoid or ellipsoid, measuring 19.3 x 14.8 microm on average. One or two small polar granules were present. Micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent. Sporocysts were ellipsoid, measuring 11.6 x 7.2 microm on average with a small Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. Six groups of respective 5 mice (4-week-old) were inoculated with doses varying from 2.0 x 10(1) to 10(6) oocysts. All the mice examined began to shed oocysts from 7 day postinoculation (PI) and their maximum number of oocysts per gram of feces were 10(6) on day 8 PI. Patency was 6 or 7 days. This parasite had severe virulence to the mice that is, the mice given 10(6) oocysts showed anorexia, diarrhoea and rough hair from 1 day and all of them died on day 3 PI. The mice given 10(3) or more oocysts showed the clinical signs described above from day 5 and 4 of them received 10(5) died on day 9 or 10 PI. The parasites occurred within the epithelial cells of cecum, colon and rectum of infected mice. Sporozoites, 13.9 x 3.0 microm, with two large refractil bodies on side of the nucleus located subcentrally were observed on day 1 and 2 PI. Merozoites were first observed at 24 hr PI, and sexual stages were found from 4 day PI. No parasites were detected in the small intestine and mecenteric lymph nodes.

Animals↗

The life cycle of a horsehair worm, Gordius robustus (Nematomorpha: Gordioidea).

Aspects of the life cycle of the nematomorph Gordius robustus were investigated. Gordius robustus larvae fed to Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) readily penetrated and subsequently encysted in the posterior portion of the midgut wall. Parasite development was then arrested in each infected beetle. Upon feeding these cysts to laboratory-reared Gryllus firmus, worm larvae developed to adults in the cricket hemocoel. In an additional experiment, G. robustus larvae fed to G. firmus did not develop to adults. These findings are in contrast to other studies that found direct infection to be an alternative mode of infection. This experiment is the first employing a laboratory-maintained stock of hosts to rear nematomorph worms.

Animals↗