STUDIES ON THE IMMUNOPARASITOLOGY OF EASTERN PAINTED TURTLES (CHRYSEMYS PICTA PICTA) AND SNAPPING TURTLES (CHELYDRA SERPENTINA) EXPOSED TO SPIRORCHID BLOOD FLUKES (SPIRORCHIS SCRIPTA) (REPTILE)

TL;DRAbstract

Humoral and cellular immune responses of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) and snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) to antigens from the eggs of the trematode Spirorchis scripta were monitored. Trematode eggs were removed from painted turtle lungs, pulverized, and injected into known parasite-free snapping turtles. Injected snapping turtles had greater numbers of eosinophilic granulocytic cells (EGC) in their spleens, where crushed egg particles may have been sequestered, than did naturally infected painted turtles with old spleen lesions, suggesting that EGC-type cells are early participants in reptilian anti-helminth defenses. Snapping turtles also produced specific antibody to spirorchid eggs observable in agglutination, gel precipitation, and ova precipitin tests. The immune response intensities were dependent on holding tank temperature and frequency of antigenic stimulation. Rhode Island painted turtles had high incidence of spirorchidiasis (81.82%). Lung tissue was the m

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