The life history of Haplorchis pumilio (Looss, 1896) from cultured tilapias |
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| Authors: | CHRISTINA SOMMERVILLE |
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| Institution: | Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. The metacercaria of Haplorchis pumilio (Looss, 1896) (Digenea: Hetero-phyidae) was found to occur commonly in intensively reared tilapias ( Tilapia, Sarotherodon ) in an East African fish farm. The life cycle on the farm was found to involve the gastropod Melanoides tuberculata (Müller) as the first intermediate host. The infection was experimentally transmitted to fish in fresh water from naturally infected molluscs. The salinity of the water on the farm varied with season from 0 to 3%0, but cercariae were shown to remain infective up to 10%0 although longevity was reduced at 7.5%0. Piscivorous predators, Ardea cinerea L., Phalocrocorax sp. and Varanus sp., which were resident or regular visitors to the farm were heavily infected with the parasite. Mice, hamsters and pigeons were found to be convenient laboratory hosts. H. pumilio shows a lack of specificity at the second intermediate and final host level as well as a wide geographic range and has been reported to infect man. Its potential as a possible cause of zoonoses, and control methods are discussed. |
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