Transovum transmission of trypanosomatid cysts in the Milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 25259791.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0108746 and PMC identifier PMC3417650.
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Abstract
Leptomonas wallacei is a trypanosomatid that develops promastigotes and cystic forms in the gut of the hemipteran insect Oncopeltus fasciatus. Insect trypanosomatids are thought to be solely transmitted from one host to another through the ingestion of parasite-contaminated feces. However, here we show that L. wallacei cysts present on the eggshells of eggs laid by O. fasciatus can also act as infective forms that are transmitted to the insect offspring. Newly hatched O. faciatus nymphs are parasite-free, but some of them become contaminated with L. wallacei after feeding on eggshell remnants. The present study is the first report of transovum transmission of a trypanosomatid, a process that may have a relevant role in parasite's within-host population dynamics.