• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2018

The family Thapariellidae has been reported in only 3 countries since 1990. The objective of this study was to identify Thapariella anastomusa metacercariae in snails in Thailand based on morphological traits using a light (LM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). A total of 94 Filopaludina snails were collected and identified as 50 F. martensi martensi and 44 F. doliaris. Metacercariae of T. anastomusa were recovered from the snails by the crushing method. The overall prevalence was 22.3% (21/94), and the mean intensity was 17.0 per snail. The prevalence in F. martensi martensi was 24.0% (12/50) and F. doliaris 20.5% (9/44) with the mean intensity of 18.8 and 14.8 per snail, respectively. SEM revealed traits such as a concave ventral body and well-developed oral and ventral suckers. This study represents the first report of T. anastomusa in South East Asia. While LM and SEM observations provide novel insights into T. anastomusa metacercarial morphology and life history, the trematode's life cycle remains unclear. To date, there has been no report of T. anastomusa causing infections in humans. However, the snails F. martensi martensi and F. doliaris carrying the infective stages of T. anastomosa are frequently consumed by Thai people. This consumption, particularly uncooked snails, may present a risk of Thapariella infections in humans.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-309
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• 2008

The metacercariae species have often been isolated from fresh water fish in Korea. In this study, we reported Clinostomum complanatum, a species of metacercariae isolated from gill and muscle of Korean barbel (Hemibarbus mylodon), a natural monument fresh water fish in Korea, by morphological observation. The excysted metacercariae, tongue-shaped and progenetic, were 3.11-4.62 mm in length and 0.90-1.43 mm in width. Fresh water fishes are known as the second intermediate hosts of C. complanatum. This is the first isolation report from Korean barbel.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 1999

Plagiorchis muris has been found in both been found in both house and field rats as well as in humans. The infection status of th second intermediate hosts of P.muris is prerequisite in understanding their biological features in an ecosystem. Six species of dragonflies were caught in a wide range of areas in Korea;and they were Sympertrum darwinianum, S.eroticum, S. pedomontanum, S. infuscatum, Pantala flavoscens, Caloteryx atrata, and Othertrum albistylum speciosum. The occurrence of P. muris metacercariae in dragonflies was nationwide with various infection rates. The metacercarial burden of P. muris in the surveyed areas was the highest in S. eroticum followed by S. darwinianum, S. pedomontanum, and C. atrata. The highest infection rate by P. muris metacercariae was found in S. darwinianum followed by S. eroticum. The metacercarial buredn was particularly heavy in the dragonflies found in Hamyang-gun and Kosong-gun, Kyongsangnam-do. It is, therefore, likely that dragonflies play a significant role as the second intermediate hose in the life cycle of P. muris in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.627-639
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• 2015

Metagonimus yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912) Katsurada, 1912 (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) is parasitic in the small intestine of mammals including man and birds in Far Eastern Russia, Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. In the present study, the metacercariae and adults of M. yokogawai were redescribed to designate a neotype of this fluke together with reviews of previous studies including study histories from the first discovery to now. We particularly, attempted to review the study histories and morphological descriptions of M. yokogawai for the species validity, and compared with the morphological characteristics and life cycles of the closely related species, Metagonimus takahashii and Metagonimus miyatai. Finally, we proposed a differential key for the 8 known Metagonimus species distributed in East Asia. Metacercariae were obtained from the body muscles of sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis) collected in the Asahi River at Takebe-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Adults were recovered from the small intestine of Syrian golden hamsters, to which the metacercariae had been fed 14 days before. A neotype was selected out of the present adult specimens. The Asahi River at Takebo-cho became the type locality of M. yokogawai. In conclusion, the present review shows that M. yokogawai, M. takahashii, and M. miyatai are valid and discriminated by means of morphological characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 1973

The present experiments proposed to pass judgement upon the suitability as the second intermediate host of Clonorchis sinensis, of three kinds of fresh-water fish by having them infected with the cercaria of Clonorchis sinensis and then observing the penetrating ability of the cercaria, and maturity, the process of degeneration and extinction, and infectivity of the metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis. The following is a brief summary of the leading facts gained through the experiments; 1. P. parva was easily subject to invasion of the cercaria, A. signifer was much less subject to the invasion, and finally A. asmussi was hard to invade. And the infectivity of the cercariae was in proportion to their penetrating ability mentioned in the above. 2. The examination of the cercariae after having three kinds of fresh-water fish infected with them disclosed that 24 hours after the infection, all of the cercariae formed their cysts in muscle and the metacercariae kept growing, and that 7 days later the metacercariae were found folding their bodies twice, and that in 15 days the characteristic structure of the metacercariae was complete and they made a vigorous rotary movement intermittently. 3. Then the metacercariae came to a state of maturity and beyond this stage some metacercariae in P. parva started the process of degeneration and extinction in 133 days; some in A. asmussi, in 140 days; and A. signifer, in 70 days. As more days elapsed, their degeneration and extinction increased in number, and in 269 days all of them in A. signifer became dead while those in A. asmussi were all dead in 460 days. However almost all of them in P. parva survived even after 770 days. The results shown above revealed that P. parva was the most suitable as the second intermediate host among three kinds of fresh-water fish and that A. signifer and A. asmussi were not quite recommendable as the second intermediate host. The ability of the cercaria to invade fresh-water fish, and life span of the metacercaria within fresh-water fish vary outstandingly according to species of fresh-water fish. An explanation as to the mechanism must wait as the subject to be further pursued.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.497-502
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• 2016

To know the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae in brackish water fish, we surveyed mullets collected from 18 coastal areas in the Republic of Korea. The metacercariae of Pygidiopsis summa were detected in 236 (68.2%) out of 346 mullets examined. They were found in mullets from 15 areas except for those from Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do), Pohang-si, and Uljin-gun (Gyeongsangbuk-do). Especially in mullets from Taean-gun (Chungcheongnam-do) and Geoje-si (Gyeongsangnam-do), their prevalences were 100% and 95.5%, and the average metacercarial density was more than 1,000 per fish. They were also detected in mullets from 3 coastal lakes, Gyeongpoho, Songjiho, and Hwajinpoho, in Gangwon-do, and their average densities were 419, 147, and 672 per infected fish, respectively. The metacercariae of 5 other heterophyid species, including Heterophyes nocens, Heterophyopsis continua, Metagonimus sp., Stictodora fuscata, and Stictodora lari, were found in the mullets examined. The metacercariae of H. nocens were detected in 66.7, 100, 28.6, 81.6, 3.9, 61.5, and 27.3% of mullets from Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Haenam-gun, Gangjin-gun, and Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun, and Geoje-si (Gyeongsangnam-do), and their metacercarial intensities were 64, 84, 119, 99, 1, 24, and 24 per fish infected, respectively. From the above results, it has been confirmed that P. summa metacercariae are heavily infected in mullets from coastal areas of Korea. It is suggested that residents who frequently consume raw mullet dish can be easily infected with heterophyid flukes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.217-225
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• 1998

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed to observe surface ultrastructures of excysted metacercariae and adults of Metagonimus miyatai. Metacercariae were collected from the scale of the pale chub (Zacco platypus). and adult flukes were harvested 1-4 weeks after infection to rats. In excysted metacercariae, the oral sucker was devoid of tegumental spines and had type I and type II sensory papillae. Anteriorly to the ventral sucker, spines were dense and digitated into 5-7 points, whereas near the posterior end of the body spines were sparse and digitated into 2-3 points. In one-week adults, 7 type II sensory papillae were arranged around the lip of the oral sucker. and at inner side of the lip one pair of small and two pairs of large type I sensory papillae were seen on each side. The distribution of tegumental spines was similar to that of metacercariae, but they were more differentiated with 9-11 pointed tips. In two- to four- week old adults, the surface ultrastructure was nearly the same as in one-week old adults, however, sperms were frequently seen entering into the Laurer＇s canal. Conclusively, the surface ultrastructure of M. miyatai was generally similar to that of M. yokogawai, however, differentiation of tegumental spines and distribution of sensory papillae around the oral sucker were different between the two species. which may be of taxonomic significance.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1997

Gymnophclloides seoi is a human intestinal trematode prevalent on southwestern islands in Korea. In the present study, we investigated whether G. seoi metacercariae can grow and develop into adults by in vitro cultivation. The metacercariae were obtained from naturally infected oysters, and cultured in uitro for 5 days under three conditions; $37^{\circ}C/5%{\;}CO_2,{\;}41^{\circ}C/8%{\;}CO_2,{\;}or{\;}41^{\circ}C/15%{\;}CO_2$, in NCTC 109 complete media containing 20% FBS and 1% antibiotics-antimycotics. The degree of worm growth and development was compared with that grown in uiuo of C3H mice. The length of the worms cultivated in uitro was $200-300{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$, not significantly different from metacercariae, whereas the length of the worms recovered from C3H mice was significantly larger, $300-400{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$. The worms produced eggs when grown in C3H mice or cultured in vitro for 2 days under $41^{\circ}C/8%{\;}CO_2{\;}or{\;}41^{\circ}C/5%{\;}CO_2$, but not when cultured under 37$^{\circ}C/5%{\;}CO_2$. Among the in vitro conditions, $41^{\circ}C/15%{\;}CO_2$ was best for egg Production, although the number of eggs was about half of worms obtained from C3H mice. In conclusion, in vitro cultivation of G. semi metacercariae into egg-pioducing adults was partially successful under culture conditions of $41^{\circ}C/5%{\;}CO_2{\;}or{\;}41^{\circ}C/8%{\;}CO_2$.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 1997

The present study was performed to analyze the infection status of trematode metacercariae in fishes caught from Chunamchosuchi (pond) located in Uichang-gun. Kyongsangnam-do. A total of 130 freshwater fish of 5 species was collected by a fish net and fish traps from November, 1995 to May, 1996. They were examined under a stereomicroscope after artificial digestion with pepsin-HCI solution. A total of 8 species or metacercaria, i. e. Clonorchis sinensis, Echinochnsnw japonicas, Cvathocotwle orientalis, Diplostomun sp.. Metorchis orientalis. Holostephcnw nipponicw, Exorchis oviformis and unidentified echinostome, was detected from them. The metacercariae of C. sinenesis were found in 8/20 (40.0%) Accnthorhodeus Qsmwsi, 20/20 (100%) Cutter breuiccudc, 31/45 (68.9) Cultriculus eigenmanni and 21/25 (84.0%) Pseunorasborc pronga, and the average number of metacercariae detected in each fish species were 1.9, 31.7. I5.3, and 73.0. From the above results, it was confirmed that fresh-water fishes from Chunamchosuchi (pond) were highly infected with metacercariae of avian trematode, i.e. C. orientolis, H. nipponicus. M. oui,entnlis, E. jcponicw and Diplostonum sp., and 4 species of fish. P. parvc, C. breuiccudn, C. eigenmnnni and A. asmussi, were infected with metacaecariae of C. sinensis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.657-664
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• 2019

We identified the echinostome metacercariae in Chinese mystery snails, Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata, from Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR with morphologies of adult worms recovered. Total 20 snails were examined with artificial digestion method and then the collected metacercariae were orally infected to a mouse and a rat. Adult worms recovered from experimental animals were observed with a light microscope and a SEM. The metacercariae were round, 125×123 ㎛ in average size, with a moderately thick cyst wall, collar spines distributed in the head collar and excretory granules in 2 canals of excretory tube. Adult flukes (3-week-old in a rat) were elongated, ventrally curved and 5.310×1.023 mm in average size. Head collar distinct, bearing 43 collar spines with 5 end group ones on each side. Oral sucker subterminal, prepharynx very short, pharynx well developed, and esophagus relatively short. Cirrus sac well developed, with a saccular seminal vesicle, and ventral sucker very large. Ovary round and on the median line of the body. Testes tandom and elongated. Eggs operculated, elliptical and 90×57 ㎛ in average size. In the SEM observation, the head crown prominent, with 43 collar spines resembled with horns of younger stag. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the surface between the head collar and ventral sucker, and their densities were decreased posteriorly. Conclusively, the metacercariae detected in C. chinensis malleata from Lao PDR were identified as those of Echinostoma macrorchis based on the morphological characteristics of adult worms.