A survey of Heterophyes nocens and Pygidiopsis summa metacercariae in mullets and gobies along the coastal areas of the Republic of Korea.
The infection status of mullets Mugil cephalus (n = 139) and gobies (n = 35) Acanthogobius flavimanus with metacercariae of Heterophyes nocens and Pygidiopsis summa was examined in 11 western, southern, and eastern coastal areas of the Republic of Korea, using a digestion technique. Heterophyid metacercariae were highly prevalent in mullets from western and southern coastal areas; Shinan-gun (100% for H. nocens and 100% for P. summa), Muan-gun (93% and 100%), Buan-gun (42% and 75%), Seocheon-gun (73% and 53%), Ganghwa-gun (47% and 100%), Sacheon-shi (47% and 77%), and Gangjin-gun (50% and 70%, respectively). Only 1 (10%) of 10 mullets from an eastern coastal area, i.e., Donghae-shi, was positive for P. summa metacercariae. Metacercarial densities were the highest in the trunk of mullets for H. nocens and the gill for P. summa. Gobies from Muan-gun were positive for H. nocens (40%) and P. summa metacercariae (40%), and gobies from Seocheon-gun revealed H. nocens metacercariae (20%). The metacercarial density was remarkably higher in mullets than in gobies. The results revealed that H. nocens and P. summa metacercariae are prevalent in mullets and gobies from coastal areas of the Republic of Korea, and the prevalence and intensity of infection vary according to geographical locality.
Guk
Sang-Mee
SM
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
Shin
Eun-Hee
EH
Kim
Jae-Lip
JL
Sohn
Woon-Mok
WM
Hong
Kwang-Sun
KS
Yoon
Cheong-Ha
CH
Lee
Soon-Hyung
SH
Rim
Han-Jong
HJ
Chai
Jong-Yil
JY
D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005843:Geography; D006578:Heterophyidae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D010473:Perciformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000469:parasitology*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*