Heterophyid metacercarial infections in brackish water fishes from Jinju-man (Bay), Kyongsangnam-do, Korea.
Heterophyid metacercarial infections in brackish water fishes, i.e., perch, shad, mullet, redlip mullet, and goby, of Jinju-man (Bay), Kyongsangnam-do, Korea, were investigated using a digestion technique. Among 45 perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), the metacercariae of Heterophyopsis continua were found in 55.6% (18.5 metacercariae per fish), Stictodora spp. in 28.9% (3.6), and Metagonimus takahashii in 6.7% (17.0). The metacercariae of H. continua were detected in 23 (65.7%) of 35 shad (Konosirus punctatus). Among 15 mullet (Mugil cephalus), the metacercariae of Pygidiopsis summa were found in 100% (105.9 metacercariae per fish), Heterophyes nocens in 40.0% (8.5), H. continua in 13.3%, and Stictodora spp. in 6.7%. Among 12 redlip mullet (Chelon haematocheilus), the metacercariae of P. summa were detected in 91.7% (1,299 metacercariae per fish), H. nocens in 16.7%, and Stictodora spp. in 16.7%. Among 35 gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus), the metacercariae of Stictodora spp. were found in 82.9% (44.5 metacercariae per fish), and H. continua in 25.7% (2.8). The adult flukes recovered from a cat experimentally infected with metacercariae from perches were compatible with M. takahashii. The results confirm that the estuarine fish in Jinju-man (Bay) are heavily infected with heterophyid metacercariae. Furthermore, it was found for the first time that the perch acts as a second intermediate host for M. takahashii.
Kim
Do Gyun
DG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea. wmsohn@gsnu.ac.kr
Kim
Tong-Soo
TS
Cho
Shin-Hyeong
SH
Song
Hyeon-je
HJ
Sohn
Woon-Mok
WM
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D006578:Heterophyidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D015995:Prevalence; D012623:Seawater; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*