OBJECTIVETo detect the species of larval trematodes (cercariae) in Melanopsis praemorsa snails from 5 different fresh water bodies in Palestine.

METHODSA total of 1 880 Melanopsis praemorsa snails were collected from different fresh water bodies in Palestine from October, 2008 to November, 2010. Cercariae in Melanopsis praemorsa snails were obtained by lighting and crushing methods. The behavior of cercariae was observed using a dissecting microscope.

RESULTSThree different species of larval trematodes were identified from Melanopsis praemorsa snails collected only from Al-Bathan fresh water body, while snails from other water bodies were not infected. These species were microcercous cercaria, xiphidiocercaria and brevifurcate lophocercous cercaria. These cercariae called Cercaria melanopsi palestinia I, Cercaria melanopsi palestinia II and Cercaria melanopsi palestinia III have not been described before from this snail in Palestine. The infection rate of Melanopsis praemorsa collected from Al-Bathan fresh water body was 5.7%, while the overall infection rate of snails collected from all fresh water bodies was 4.3%. Details are presented on the morphology and behavior of the cercariae as well as their development within the snail.

CONCLUSIONSThese results have been recorded for the first time and these cercariae may be of medical and veterinary importance.

Larva

The aim of this study was to conduct a freshwater snail survey in Mae Lao agricultural basin to assess the diversity with a focus on habitat types and their larval trematode infections. Snails were collected and examined in 14 sites of Mae Lao agricultural basin from August 2016 to October 2017. A total of 1,688 snail individuals were collected and classified into 7 families, 8 genera, and 12 species. Snail diversity and habitat types were higher in rice paddies than irrigation canals and streams. The most abundant species was Bithynia siamensis siamensis, representing 54.6% of the sample. Three species of snails act as first intermediate host were found with cercarial infections. They were Filopaludina sumatrensis polygramma, B. s. siamensis, and Melanoides tuberculata. The cercariae were categorized into 7 types; echinostome, monostome, gymnocephalous, virgulate, parapleurolophocercous, pleurolophocercous and megalurous cercariae. Parapleurolophocercous cercariae constituted the most common type of cercariae recovered, contributing 41.2% of all infections in snails. Echinostome metacercariae infections were found in 6 snail species with 7.6% prevalence. In addition, the metacercaria of avian trematode, Thapariella sp. were found in Filopaludina spp. snails and B. funiculata with a prevalence of 0.5%. This is the first report for Thapariella metacercariae in the snail host, B. funiculata, and also confirmed that viviparid and bithyniid snails act as the second intermediate hosts of this trematode. This work will provide new information on the distribution and intermediate host of trematode in this area.
Cercaria ; Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Metacercariae ; Prevalence ; Rivers ; Snails ; Trematode Infections

A total of 220 tadpoles was captured in 6 areas and total 117 frogs, Rana nigromaculata, were collected in 11 areas in Korea. They were examined for their infecion status by the metacercariae of Fibricola seoulensis by peptic digestion technique and by histological observation with hematoxylin-eosin staining. This study was carried out from August 1983 to September 1984. Followings are the results. The tadpoles of R. nigromaculata were positive for the metacercariae from 3.3 percent to 100 percent by area. The number of metacercariae per infected tadpole ranged from 1 to 584, and the mean number per tadpole ranged from 7.6 to 221 by area. The metacercariae from 16 tadpoles were counted by the body portion. A great majority of the metacercariae was collected from abdominal cavity, 98.3 percent of 484 counted larvae. And 6(1.2 percent) larvae were from proximal tail and 2(0.4 percent) from trunk. Histological sections of tadpoles showed many metacercariae in abdominal cavity but none in other parts. The larvae were free in the spaces among intestinal loops or around primitive liver. A few larvae were in duct-like tissues near trunk wall. There was little infiltration of inflammatory cells. The metacercarial infection rates of frogs ranged from 0 percent to 100 percent by area. The larval burden was 1 to 470 by infected frogs, and mean number ranged from 1 to 175.6 by area. By above results, it is suggested that the cercariae of F. seoulensis may infect R. nigromaculata already in the stage of tadpole. Almost all of the metacercariae were concentrated in abdominal cavity of tadpoles. According to the infection status of frogs, this fluke is prevalent almost nation-widely in rice paddies in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Fibricola seoulensis ; epidemiology ; metacercaria ; frog ; tadpole ; Rana nigromaculata

A community based campaign for larvae reduction was organized in 3 communes Hoa Loc, An Thoi, Tan Trung of Mo Cay district, Ben Tre province in 2002. The results: the model of campaign expressed clearly the effectiveness and feasibility in larvae and mosquitos density’ reduction immediately after implementing. Furthermore, launching three to four campaigns times per year can maintain its effectiveness in long time. To gain the most effectiveness, all methods were urged implementing for changes in people’s behaviours and close combination between government, health training communication and regulations
Larva ; Epidemiology

In an attempt to determine the incidence of the cercarial larvae of trematodes, Semisulcospira snails collected in Judong stream, an endemic area of Paragonimus westermani, in Kyungpook Province, Korea, were examined from 1965 to 1980. The infestation rate for cercariae in the snails was 5.4 per cent, but in 1970 dropped to 4.0 per cent and remained at the same level, 4.2 per cent, in 1975. It then decreased to 3.5 per cent in 1980. Seven species of cercariae, Cercaria incerta(Kobayashi, 1992) Faust, 1924, Cercaria nipponensis(Ando, 1915) Faust, 1924, Cercaria yoshidae(Osafune, 1898) Cort et Nichols, 1920, Centrocestus armatus(Tanabe, 1922) Yamaguti, 1934, Metagonimus species, Notocotylus magniovatus Yamaguti, 1934, and Paragonimus westermani(Kerbert, 1878), and five kinds of undeterminced cercariae were found. Of these, the most freqently emerged cercaria was Metagonimus species, folllowed by Notocotylus magniovatus. The least freqently emerged was Paragonimus westermani, with the rate of 0.04 per cent. The liberation rates in the five kinds of undetermined species varied from 0.04 to 0.15 per cent. In the monthly liberaton rates for cercariae, the highest rate was encountered in May, and decreased in the period from June to November. It then somewhat increased again in December. There was no correlation in the liberation rate for cercariae and length of snails. The results of this study indicate that the infestation of Semisulcospira snails with the cercariae of trematodes has decreased over the fifteen year period from 1965 to 1980.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Semisulcospira sp. ; Paragonimus westermani ; Cercaria incerta ; Cercaria nipponensis ; Cercaria yoshidae ; Centrocestus armatus ; cercaria ; epidemiology

Cutaneous larva migrans(CLM) is a creeping cutaneous eruption that results from skin invasion by the larval form of nematodes. We experienced two patients who had typical clinical findings of CLM. One patient had a history of contact with possibly contaminated fertilizer by the larva of nematotes. The other had a history of travelling to the endemic tropical areas. We report herein two cases of CLM with the literature review of the previous CLM cases in Korea.
Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Larva Migrans* ; Skin

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is an uncommon cutaneous creeping eruption caused by the invasion and migration of nematode larvae into the skin. Burrowing larvae produce intensely pruritic, serpiginous, raised erythematous skin lesions. Most cases of CLM reported in Korea involved travelers returning from endemic areas with tropical or subtropical climates. We report herein a case of CLM with no history of travelling to endemic area and briefly review the relevant literature.
Climate ; Korea ; Larva ; Larva Migrans ; Skin

No abstract available.
Larva ; Tick Bites*

Mosquitoes and larvae were investigated in the forests, edges of forest and other landscapes in the jungles of U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha during two years of 2002 and 2003. A total of 15 species (24.19% of total mosquitoes species found throughout the country and 37.5% of those in the Southern Vietnam) was found, some of which were typical species of the water forest fauma. A mingle species composition of flood plain forest fauna with presence of An. paraliae, An. umbrosus, An. separatus... and coastal brackish fauma with An. sundaucus and An. nimpe found in the study sites suggests that the forests narrowness, forest fires and other ecological damages have caused the changes of species composition and distribution of mosquitoes of forest fauna
Anopheles ; epidemiology ; Larva ; Trees