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

VIOZZI, G.; FLORES V.; RAUQUE, C.

JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY

American Society of Parasitologist

Lugar: Winston Salem; Año: 2005 vol. 91 p. 229 - 231

0022-3395

During a survey of parasites of the Patagonian freshwater crab Aegla neuquensis neuquensis, its ectosymbiot Temnocephala chilensis was found parasitized with an echinostomatid metacercaria with 43 collar spines. Of the 414 T. chilensis collected, 106 were parasitized with metacercariae of Echinoparyphium sp. Ovigerous adults of E. megacirrus were obtained from domestic chicks experimentally infected with metacercariae obtained from temnocephalans. This is the first record of temnocephalans being parasitized by digeneans.