Larval trematode infections in freshwater snails from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe

  • Chingwena G
  • Mukaratirwa S
  • Kristensen T
  • et al.
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Abstract

Between November 1998 and October 2000, freshwater snails were collected monthly from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe to determine the occurrence of larval trematodes. A total of 13,789 snails, representing ten species, were collected from 21 sites and 916 (6.6%) harboured patent trematode infections. Eight morphologically distinguishable types of cercariae were identified. Bulinus tropicus had the highest overall prevalence of infection (13.1%). The echinostome was the most common type of cercaria recovered, contributing 38.2% of all infections. Schistosoma cercariae were recovered mainly from the highveld and comprised 8.0% of all infections. Amphistome cercariae contributed 37.6% of all infections and were recorded from both the highveld and lowveld areas with a peak prevalence occurring during the post-rainy period (March–May). The main intermediate host for amphistomes was B. tropicus . Infections in B. globosus , B. forskalii and Biomphalaria pfeifferi with amphistome cercariae are new records for Zimbabwe.

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Chingwena, G., Mukaratirwa, S., Kristensen, T. K., & Chimbari, M. (2002). Larval trematode infections in freshwater snails from the highveld and lowveld areas of Zimbabwe. Journal of Helminthology, 76(4), 283–293. https://doi.org/10.1079/joh2002132

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