An ectosymbiotic flatworm, Temnocephala chilensis, as second intermediate host for Echinoparyphium megacirrus (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in Patagonia (Argentina).

VIOZZI, GUSTAVO; FLORES, VERÓNICA; RAUQUE, CARLOS

JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY

American Society of Parasitologists

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2005 vol. 91 p. 229 - 231

0022-3395

During a survey of parasites of the Patagonian freshwater crabs Aegla neuquensis neuquensis, ectosymbiotic Temnocephala chilensis were found infecting echinostomatid metacercariae with 43 collar spines. From 414 T. chilensis collected, 106 were parasitized with metacercariae of Echinoparyphium sp.  Ovigerous adults of E. megacirrus were obtained from chicks experimentally infected with metacercariae obtained from temnocephalans. This is the first record of temnocephalans being parasitized by digeneans.