ISSN:
1573-5192
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The life-cycle of Helicometra gibsoni n. sp., an opecoelid trematode of marine fishes, is elucidated and the life-history stages are described. Natural infections with the cercariae, which are typically opecoelid in many respects but characterised by having very long, extensile tails, were found in the intertidal snail Anachis terpsichore collected from the Lawson's Bay Coast, Bay of Bengal. Metacercariae were found in the thoracic muscles of the shooting shrimp Alphaeus malabaricus as prominent, reddish-brown, oval cysts. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that 14 days are required for the development of cercaria into the infective metacercarial stage in shrimps. Natural infections with the adult fluke were found in Scorpaenopsis cirrhosus. Therapon jarbua served as an experimental host. Fourteen-day-old metacercariae fed to T. jarbua developed into egg-producing adults in 40–43 days. Intra-specific variations noted in the flukes obtained from natural and experimental infections are presented. H. fasciata of Madhavi (1975) is regarded as a synonym of H. gibsoni.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00017001
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