Developmental and Phylogenetic Characteristics of Stellantchasmus falcatus (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) from Thailand.
This study aimed to investigate the infection status, worm development, and phylogenetic characteristics of the intestinal trematode, Stellantchasmus falcatus. The metacercariae of S. falcatus were detected only in the half-beak (Dermogenus pusillus) out of the 4 fish species examined. Their prevalence was 90.0%, and the intensity of infection was 919 metacercariae on average. Worms were recovered from 33 (97.1%) of 34 chicks that were experimentally infected with 200 S. falcatus metacercariae each, and the average recovery rate was 43.0%. The body size and inner organs of S. falcatus quickly increased in the experimental chicks over days 1-2 post-infection (PI). In addition, ITS2 sequence data of this parasite were analyzed to examine the phylogenetic relationships with other trematodes using the UPGMA method. The results indicated that the ITS2 sequence data recorded from trematodes in the family Heterophyidae appeared to be monophyletic. This study concluded that D. pusillus serves as a compatible second intermediate host of S. falcatus in Thailand and that S. falcatus can develop rapidly in the experimental chicks. Data collected from this study can help to close the gap in knowledge regarding the epidemiology, biology, and phylogenetic characteristics of S. falcatus in Thailand.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand ; Biology Program, School of Science, University of Phayao, Muang, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
Pralongyut
P
Sripalwit
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Chalobol
C
Wongsawad
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Thapana
T
Chontananarth
Biotechnology Unit, Biology Department, Science Faculty, Phayao University, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
Somboon
S
Anuntalabhochai
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Pheravut
P
Wongsawad
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
Jong-Yil
JY
Chai
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D006578:Heterophyidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058488:Metacercariae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013785:Thailand; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
ITS2; Stellantchasmus falcatus; phylogenetic analysis; prevalence; worm development