Effect of temperature on activity of third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus vasorum.

To evaluate the effect of temperature on the activity and mortality of the L3 of Angiostrongylus vasorum, 1,500 L3 were isolated from experimentally infected snails and distributed into five equal groups. Three groups were incubated at 37°C, 27°C, and 5°C. The remaining two groups were incubated at 27°C and 5°C for 10 days, at which time the temperature for the 27°C group was reduced to 5°C and the 5°C group increased to 27°C. Larva activity was observed daily and inactive larvae were removed. At 37°C, larvae survived up to 8 days. At 27°C, larvae were active until day 6. When subjected to a reduction in temperature from 27°C to 5°C beginning on day 10, the number of active larvae increased until day 13. Only on day 17 did the number of active larvae decline to zero. At 5°C, larvae remained active until day 15, surviving to 24 days. When temperature was increased from 5°C to 27°C beginning on day 10, larvae were found active until day 12 and maintained an intermediate level of activity to day 21. Survival of larvae was greater at lower temperatures, while high temperatures were associated with higher mortality.