Pica-Mattoccia L, Moroni R, Tchuem Tchuenté L A, Southgate V R, Cioli D
Institute of Cell Biology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
Parasitology. 2000 May;120 ( Pt 5):495-500. doi: 10.1017/s0031182099005685.
Male and female schistosomes are generally assumed to form stable monogamous pairs for the whole span of their long existence in the mammalian host. Recent evidence from mixed infections has shown that Schistosoma mansoni males can displace S. intercalatum males from their homologous partners, but no information exists about the existence of similar phenomena within a single schistosome species. Here, we determine whether male S. mansoni can displace males of the same species from pre-formed pairs in vivo. The availability of clear-cut genetic markers of drug resistance in schistosomes was exploited to show that hycanthone sensitive S. mansoni males can displace homospecific hycanthone resistant males from pre-formed pairs and vice versa. The frequency of changes is dependent on the magnitude of the excess single males competing with paired worms. The possible mechanics and the biological significance of mate changing are discussed.
一般认为，在哺乳动物宿主体内长期生存的整个过程中，雌雄血吸虫通常会形成稳定的一夫一妻制配对。近期混合感染的证据表明，曼氏血吸虫雄虫能够将间插血吸虫雄虫从其同源配偶中取代，但关于单一血吸虫物种内是否存在类似现象尚无相关信息。在此，我们确定曼氏血吸虫雄虫在体内是否能够从预先形成的配对中取代同种雄虫。利用血吸虫中明确的抗药基因标记来表明，对海恩酮敏感的曼氏血吸虫雄虫能够从预先形成的配对中取代同种对海恩酮耐药的雄虫，反之亦然。变化的频率取决于与配对虫体竞争的多余单雄虫数量。文中还讨论了配偶更换的可能机制及生物学意义。
