Opportunity for parasites to manipulate host behavioral phenotype may be influenced by several factors, including the host ecology and the presence of cohabiting parasites in the same host. Metacercariae of Ornithodiplostomum ptychocheilus and "black spot" Crassiphiala bulboglossa have similar life cycles. Each parasite uses a littoral snail as a first intermediate host, fathead minnows as a se...

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of snail’s intermediate host affected with larval stages of different trematodes. Materials and Methods: Snails were collected from ponds, tanks, ditches, canals and crop fields in and around Ranchi. They were transported to the laboratory in water containers and maintained in small aquaria, supplemented with natural food stuff. T...

The first intermediate host of six-known the Paragonimus species in Thailand had not been found until the Filopaludina (Siamopaludina) martensi martensi snail was discovered to maintain the cercariae of a Paragonimus species. An extensive study examined cercarial development through to adult worms by infecting 3 genera of 7 crab species with penetration of cercariae and feeding of snails contai...

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) has been eliminated or significantly reduced as a public health problem in several previously highly endemic regions. This has been achieved by the long-term application of prevention and control measures primarily targeted to deworming dogs, health education, meat inspection, and effective surveillance in livestock and human populations. Human CE, however, rema...

Acanthocephalan parasites are known to alter the reproductive biology and physiology of their hosts in various ways. In this study we investigated the influence of two acanthocephalan parasites, Pomphorhynchus laevis and Polymorphus minutus, on the fecundity and pairing success of female Gammarus pulex. The results show that P. laevis and P. minutus affect female intermediate host reproduction ...

Of the 18 trematode species that use the horn snail, Cerithidea californica, as a first intermediate host, 6 have the potential to use raccoons as a final host. The presence of raccoon latrines in Carpinteria Salt Marsh, California, allowed us to investigate associations between raccoons and trematodes in snails. Two trematode species, Probolocoryphe uca and Stictodora hancocki, occurred at hig...

The incidence and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis have fallen dramatically over the past several decades. Nonetheless, cystic echinococcosis remains a major public health issue in several countries and regions as a result of a reduction of control programmes due to economic problems. Geographic distribution differs by country and region depending on the presence of large numbers of nomadic ...

BACKGROUND Snail intermediate hosts play active roles in the transmission of snail-borne trematode infections in Africa. A good knowledge of snail-borne diseases epidemiology particularly snail intermediate host populations would provide the necessary impetus to complementing existing control strategy. MAIN BODY This review highlights the importance of molecular approaches in differentiating ...

Echinorhynchustruttae and the Echinorhynchusbothniensis species complex are common parasites of salmoniform and other fishes in northern Europe. Echinorhynchusbothniensis and its sibling species Echinorhynchus 'bothniensis' are thought to be closely related to the Nearctic Echinorhynchusleidyi Van Cleave, 1924 based on morphological similarity and common usage of a mysid intermediate host. This...

Gnathostomiasis is a helminthic disease most frequently occurring in Thailand. Human infections are usually found to be caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum, although five species of the genus Gnathostoma exist in Thailand, and three of these are capable of infecting man. In Thailand, 47 species of vertebrates--fish (19), frogs (2), reptiles (11), birds (11) and mammals (4)--have been reported to s...