Chemical communication in adult schistosomes

Lipids released bySchistosoma mansoni adult males attract females in vitro. Lipid release is modulated by the presence of other worms. AlthoughS. mansoni males release lipid when paired with females, the release is enhanced when they are separated.S. japonicum adults release more free sterols when incubated individually than when incubated together. Similarly, individually incubatedS. haematobium males release more free sterols than when incubated in groups. However,S. haematobium females incubated in groups release more free fatty acids than do equal numbers of males or pairs incubated in groups. There is evidence thatS. mansoni adult females concomitantly accumulate and release cholesterol in the absence of an exogenous supply, although de novo synthesis of cholesterol in schistosomes has not yet been demonstrated. Schistosomula and adult schistosomes incorporate exogenous lipids. Lipids are incorporated chiefly through the tegument. Cholesterol is transferred between males and females.