[The effect of hemolymph inoculation on the mechanism of defense of Biomphalaria tenagophila (Orbigny, 1835)].

The resistance of B. tenagophila snails to infection by Schistosoma mansoni was studied. These snails had been previously inoculated with hemolymph talsen from other snails infected by S. mansoni of SJ strain or by other trematodes. The findings suggest that two types--cellular and humoral--are responsible for the resistance to infection by S. mansoni. The cellular response occurred when the snails were inoculated with hemolymph from snails infected by S. mansoni, B. tenagophila inoculate with hemolymph from snails infected by furcocercariae without eye-spot, also showed resistance to the infection by S. mansoni. In this latter case, the degenerated sporocysts were not enveloped by amebocitary reaction, leading to the conclusion that humoral factors could be involved.