Pictured is a comparison of an infected (top) and uninfected (bottom) freshwater snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum. The parasite is called Microphallus, and can colonize the snail hen the snail passively ingests Microphallus eggs while feeding. The snail serves as an intermediate host for the parasite–meaning that the parasite needs the snail’s resources to develop and reach its next host. Often these final hosts are waterfowl, though in the lab mice are used for experimental purposes.

This images was made in the lab of Curt Lively at the Department of Biology at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Digital Print
1′x1′
2003