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Updated: May 6, 2026

Thermal Limits Determination for Zooplankton Using a Heat Block
Published on: November 18, 2022
Temperature-dependent changes in lipid composition of the cestode Schistocephalus solidus
Ekaterina V Borvinskaya1, Natalia N Fokina2
1Institute of Lake Baikal Biology, Irkutsk State University, 3 Lenin St, Irkutsk 664025, Russia.
Abstract:
This study investigated lipid dynamics in larvae and sexually mature Schistocephalus solidus, a cestode parasite that transitions between cold-blooded fish and warm-blooded avian hosts. The lipid content was analyzed in relation to the environmental temperature and parasite developmental stage. A two-day incubation revealed that mature worms accumulate cholesterol esters, reflecting resource investment in egg production. The fatty acid composition of mature worms revealed increased proportions of stearic (18:0), linoleic (18:2n-6), gamma-linolenic (18:3n-6), and cetoleic (22:1n-11) acids, alongside a decrease in pentadecenoic (15:1) acid. The saturated-to-unsaturated fatty acid ratio remained stable, suggesting that no significant adjustments occurred in the membrane bilayers under thermal stress. The phospholipid composition shifted significantly, with a decrease in the phospholipid content and a marked increase in the phosphatidylinositol (PI) content in mature worms, indicating the activation of PI biosynthetic pathways. These findings highlight the strategic reallocation of resources in mature worms, prioritizing the accumulation of stored lipids over structural phospholipid synthesis. Additionally, the results suggest that specific lipid metabolism pathways in S. solidus are regulated by environmental temperature, providing insights into the adaptive strategies employed by this parasite during host transition.
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