Transplantation of in vitro-generated Schistosoma mansoni mother sporocysts into Biomphalaria glabrata

Specific studies on schistosome gene functions require both access to the parasite stages, preferably the larvae, and to complete the life cycle. In the present study, we investigated whether short-term in vitro cultivation of sporocysts and surgical transplantation into snails could be combined to produce cercariae. Miracidia were maintained in vitro in the presence of Momphalaria glabrata embryonic (Bge) cells or, alternatively, in Bge-cell-conditioned medium. The transformation of miracidia to mother sporocysts was observed in both cases. Two day-old sporocysts were transplanted into the cephalopedal sinus of recipient snails. Transplantation efficiencies varied between 16% and 43%, depending on the culture of the sporocysts in terms of the number of cercariae producing snails. Cercariae recovered from these snails were used to successfully infect hamsters, demonstrating that short term in vitro-generated sporocysts undergo normal cercariogenesis following transplantation. This combination of in vitro cultivation and transplantation may be useful for novel experimental approaches to investigate the genes involved in larval development or host-parasite molecular interactions.