Is parasitic infection a buffer against metal pollution?

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dc.contributor.authorLeiva, N. V
dc.contributor.authorMontenegro, D
dc.contributor.authorCastro, C
dc.contributor.authorSilva, M
dc.contributor.authorVidal, R
dc.contributor.authorGonzalez, M. T
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-28T02:20:37Z
dc.date.available2026-08-28T02:20:37Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractMetal pollution is a major global issue in aquatic environments, affecting environmental quality and potentially altering host-parasite dynamics. This study evaluates the buffering role of a larval trematode Himasthla sp. under experimental conditions to test the effect of copper (Cu) exposure on the survival of the marine snail Echinolittorina peruviana. Snails were collected from intertidal rocky pools over a two-month period from Coloso (23 degrees 45'S, 70 degrees 28'W), northern Chile, and identified as parasitized or unparasitized. Both groups were then exposed to Cu concentrations (3 and 6 mg/L). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to determine the percentage of survival over time and the respective confidence intervals (CI). A nested ANOVA was conducted to assess whether rediae abundance per snail varied by experiment time, snail status, and Cu concentration. Snail survival was affected by both Cu-concentrations, but the effect was greater at 6 mg/L. At 3 mg/L, 57% (CI: 49.9-66.6%) of unparasitized snails were alive at 192 h, while 56% (CI: 46.6-67.4%) of parasitized snails survived at 216 h. At 6 mg/L, 42% (CI:35-51%) of unparasitized snails survived at 192 h, while 48% of parasitized snails survived at 216 h (CI:39-59%). Regardless of Cu concentration, after 240 h, all unparasitized snails had died, while 15% of parasitized snails remained alive. Dead snails harboured 125 +/- 53 rediae, while survivors had 194 +/- 73 rediae, with no significant differences between treatments. Our results show that parasitized snails survived longer than unparasitized snails, suggesting a trade-off between parasitism and host survival in polluted environments.
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S0022149X2500015X
dc.identifier.issn0022-149X
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorioabierto.uantof.cl/handle/uantof/747
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherCambridge University Press
dc.relation.urihttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-helminthology/article/abs/is-parasitic-infection-a-buffer-against-metal-pollution/EC9D4E6A69FA1F2B97482C68335DE289
dc.rightsNo es de acceso abierto
dc.sourceJournal of Helminthology
dc.subjectChile
dc.subjectcopper
dc.subjectgastropod
dc.subjectintertidal ecosystems
dc.subjectlarval trematode
dc.titleIs parasitic infection a buffer against metal pollution?
dc.typeArticle
oaire.citation.volume99
organization.identifier.rorhttps://ror.org/04eyc6d95
organization.legalNameUniversidad de Antofagasta
uantof.identificator.facultyFacultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos
uantof.identificator.instituteInstituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt
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