An ultrastructural study of the effect of parasitism by larval Schistosoma mansoni on the calcium reserves of the host, Biomphalaria glabrata.

The tissues of Biomphalaria glabrata contain three types of calcium cells which can be differentiated by their location and the size and number of their contained corpuscles. X-ray analysis has confirmed the presence of calcium and magnesium in the corpuscles. Molluscs containing the larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni at 40 days post infection show disintegration of the calcareous corpuscles in Type-A calcium cells and erosion of the inner surface of the shell.