To evaluate the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on the hatchability of Fasciola hepatica eggs (common liver fluke), the fecundity (number of cocoons laid) and survival of the host snail Lymnaea truncatula infected with Fasciola hepatica miracidia (exposed or unexposed).
A miracidium is a small free-living larval stage of parasitic flatworms in the class Trematoda.
Infected snails were divided into three groups (each group, n=8): the snails of groups I and II were infected with control miracidia (unexposed) and group III was infected with magnetic field exposed miracidia. After infection, snails of groups II and III were also exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 10 days
eggs of Fasciola hepatica
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 53 days
Lymnaea truncatula
|
Snails were divided into three groups: i) Lymnaea truncatula infected with miracidia of Fasiola hepatica not exposed to EMF ii) Lymnaea truncatula infected with miracidia of Fasiola hepatica not exposed to EMF, but exposed to EMF after infection iii) Lymnaea truncatula infected with miracidia of Fasiola hepatica exposed to EMF and further exposed to EMF after infection
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 10 days |
| Additional info | eggs of Fasciola hepatica |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Setup | pair of Helmholtz-coils with a diameter of 17 cm each, 7 cm apart, generating a vertical field; Helmholtz coils mounted on a wooden frame surrounding the cork-jacketed cylinder into which the culture flasks were placed |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Additional info | the difference in temperature in the experimental and control groups did not exceed 1.5°C |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | - |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 53 days |
| Additional info | Lymnaea truncatula |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | - |
The data showed an accelerated hatching of Fasciola hepatica eggs developed under the extremely low frequency magnetic field in relation to the non-exposed control group on day 10 of incubation (2.4 times higher). At the same time, the control cultures had approximately three times more eggs containing developed miracidia.
At day 14 post infection, a significant decrease in the number of cocoons laid by snails of group III was observed, compared with the control group. Also, significantly increased mortality in group III snails was observed 42 days post infection. The increased mortality and a lower number of cocoons laid by group III snails probably resulted from enhanced stimulation of metacercarial parthenogenetic reproduction in consequence of infecting the snails with miracidia cultured under the extremely low frequency magnetic field.
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