Thomas JD, Kowalczyk C, Somasundaram B. The biochemical ecology of Biomphalaria glabrata, a snail host of Schistosoma mansoni: short chain carboxylic and amino acids as phagostimulants.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. A, COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 1989;
93:899-911. [PMID:
2570673 DOI:
10.1016/0300-9629(89)90516-1]
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Abstract
1. A buccal mass olfactometer was used to investigate the responses of the fresh-water pulmonate snail Biomphalaria glabrata to carboxylic and amino acids. 2. The snails proved very discriminating as only 6 (14.6%) of the 41 chemical species tested were effective as phagostimulants. These are ranked as follows in order of potency:- butanoate greater than propanoate greater than D-malate greater than 2-hydroxybutanoate = L-tartrate = L-aspartate. 3. The structure-activity relationships of the active compounds, and their significance to the ecology and control of the snails are discussed.
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