Hyperparasitism by Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha: Gordiida) larva of Monostome redia (Trematoda: Digenea).
Gordiid larvae enter and encyst within a large variety of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates. Cysts of a single species of gordiid have been found in such diverse hosts as insect larvae, snails, crustaceans, fish, and many others. One particularly surprising host report was made nearly 100 yr ago, i.e., cysts within adult trematodes. The origin of these cysts remained unclear, but it was suggested that the gordiid larvae gained entry into the adult flukes via their definitive, vertebrate host. In the present study, the finding is reported of gordiid cysts within monostome redia within a Physa gyrina snail. This is the first time gordiid cysts have been reported within redia, and this provides an alternative explanation for the presence of cysts within adult trematodes.
Hanelt
B
B
Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA. bhanelt@unm.edu
D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D006376:Helminths / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000469:parasitology*
D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S