title: Biliary parasite Pseudamphistomum truncatum (Opistorchiidae) in American mink (Mustela vison) and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Ireland.
abstract: Native Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and introduced American mink (Mustela vison) carcasses collected throughout Ireland were screened for biliary parasites. Secondary intermediate hosts, Cyprinid fish, were also examined for Opistorchiid metacercariae. Twenty-nine mink and 24 otter gall bladders were screened for biliary parasites. A single mink and three otters were found to be infected with the digenetic trematode Pseudamphistomum truncatum. Eighty-nine percent of roach (Rutilus rutilus) from the River Shannon were infected with P. truncatum metacercariae, confirming the persistence of the parasite. This is the first record of the species in Ireland, and its recent introduction is probably related to the movement and release of Cyprinid fishes by anglers.
authors.affiliation: Mammal Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. c.hawkins2@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: Conall J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Joe M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caffrey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lawton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000469:parasitology; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000469:parasitology; D007494:Ireland; D008907:Mink / Q000469:parasitology*; D010041:Otters / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000662:veterinary*