title: Larval trematode infections in freshwater snails from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe.
abstract: Between November 1998 and October 2000, freshwater snails were collected monthly from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe to determine the occurrence of larval trematodes. A total of 13,789 snails, representing ten species, were collected from 21 sites and 916 (6.6%) harboured patent trematode infections. Eight morphologically distinguishable types of cercariae were identified. Bulinus tropicus had the highest overall prevalence of infection (13.1%). The echinostome was the most common type of cercaria recovered, contributing 38.2% of all infections. Schistosoma cercariae were recovered mainly from the highveld and comprised 8.0% of all infections. Amphistome cercariae contributed 37.6% of all infections and were recorded from both the highveld and lowveld areas with a peak prevalence occurring during the post-rainy period (March-May). The main intermediate host for amphistomes was B. tropicus. Infections in B. globosus, B. forskalii and Biomphalaria pfeifferi with amphistome cercariae are new records for Zimbabwe.
authors.affiliation: University of Zimbabwe, Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe. gchingwena@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chingwena
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukaratirwa
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chimbari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology; D002033:Bulinus / Q000469:parasitology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005618:Fresh Water; D007814:Larva; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology