Cercariae of a species of Philophthalmus detected in a freshwater snail, Semisulcospira libertina, in Japan

Parasitol Int. 2005 Mar;54(1):55-7. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2004.10.002. Epub 2005 Jan 12.

Abstract

Cercariae belonging to the genus Philophthalmus (Digenea: Philophthalmidae) were detected in a freshwater snail Semisulcospira libertina collected from Innai Town, Oita Prefecture, Kyusyu, Japan. This is the first record of the cercaria of this genus from East Asia and from Semisulcospira. Daughter rediae and cercariae are briefly described and morphologically compared with similar but unidentified ones reported from Japan. Cercariae were found encysting on the surface of the bottom of the container and metamorphosed into a flask-like metacercaria characteristic of Philophthalmus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fresh Water
  • Japan
  • Life Cycle Stages
  • Snails / parasitology*
  • Trematoda / anatomy & histology
  • Trematoda / classification
  • Trematoda / growth & development*
  • Trematoda / isolation & purification*