Bucephalid (Gasterostome) Cercariae Obtained from Freshwater Clams in Thailand

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Keywords:
cercarial emergence freshwater clams bivalvia Bucephalidae

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Duangduen Krailas
Parasitology and Medical Malacology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
Sirilak Chotesaengsri
Parasitology and Medical Malacology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
Namfon Pattaradussadee
Parasitology and Medical Malacology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
Napatsorn Notesiri
Parasitology and Medical Malacology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
Wivitchuta Dechruksa
Parasitology and Medical Malacology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand

Abstract

Abstract

Freshwater clams were collected in 16 sampling localities of 11 provinces in northeast Thailand. The clams were collected every 2 months, between February 2006 and August 2007, using the “counts per unit of time” sampling method. A total of 508 clam samples from 6 species were found–280 Corbicula sp, 23 Pilsbryoconcha sp, 136 Scabies crispate, 6 Pseudodon mouhoti, 51 Limnoperna siamensis, and 12 Physunio eximinus. Bucephalid (Gasterostome) cercariae were found from 3 clams belonging to 2 species, 1 Corbicula sp each at Rasi Salai and Lampao dams, and 1 Limnoperna siamensis at the Lampao River. The infection rate was 0.59% (3/508). Freshwater clams can serve as the first and second intermediate hosts for trematodes. This is the first study to report cercarial emergence from freshwater bivalves in this geographic region.

Keywords: cercarial emergence; freshwater clams; bivalvia; Bucephalidae

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 31 No. 2: December 2008
Section
Original Articles