title: Centrocestus formosanus (Digenea: Heterophyidae) encysted in the freshwater fish, Puntius brevis, from Lao PDR.
abstract: The metacercariae of Centrocestus formosanus, a minute intestinal trematode of mammals and birds, were detected in the freshwater fish, Puntius brevis, from Vientiane Municipality, Lao PDR. The metacercariae were experimentally fed to mice, and adult flukes were recovered in their small intestines 7 days later. The adult flukes were morphologically characterized by having 32 (rarely 34) circumoral spines arranged in 2 alternative rows, a large bipartite seminal vesicle, an oval-shaped ovary, and an X-shaped excretory bladder. Based on these characters, the adults were identified as Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori, 1924). The taxonomic significance of C. formosanus, in relation to a closely related species, C. caninus (Leiper, 1913), is briefly discussed. It has been first verified by adult worm recovery that C. formosanus is prevalent in Vientiane areas of Lao PDR, taking the freshwater fish, P. brevis, as a second intermediate host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Taek
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Souvanny
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phommakorn
authors.forename: Bounthong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sengvilaykham
authors.forename: Jae Lip
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rim
authors.forename: Jong Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D007812:Laos; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*