The morphology and ultrastructure alterations of the digestive gland, as well as biochemical changes of Pirenella conica infected with Heterophyes larvae were investigated in snails collected from irrigation canals in Port-Said Province during the spring-summer periods of 2012-2013. The results showed great histological damages in the digestive gland of infected snails. Meanwhile, a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in total protein and total lipid contents was detected while the glucose concentrations exihibited a small range of variation. Uric acid was significantly increased in both the digestive gland and the cephalopedal mass. Infected snails showed elevated levels (P 0.05) of nitric oxide and the antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST).
Key words: Digestive gland, Histopathological, Pirenella conica. Heterophyes sp.
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