Abstract
Dibothriocephalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea; syn. Diphyllobothrium latum), is a fish-borne zoonotic parasite responsible for diphyllobothriasis in humans. Although D. latus has long been studied, many aspects of its epidemiology and distribution remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, mean intensity of infestation, and mean abundance of plerocercoid larvae of D. latus in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and its spatial distribution in three commercial fishing areas in Lake Iseo (Northern Italy). A total of 598 specimens of P. fluviatilis were caught in 2019. The total prevalence of D. latus was 6.5%. However, there were significant differences between areas (10.2% North; 7.3% Center; 1.5% South) (Chi-square test, p = 0.0018). The mean intensity of infestation ranged from 1 larva in southern area to 1.2 larvae in both the central and northern (Pisogne) areas. In addition, the mean abundance ranged from 0.02 in the southern area to 0.26 in the northern area (Pisogne). The total number of larvae (anterior dorsal—AD = 21; anterior ventral—AV = 1; posterior dorsal—PD = 15; posterior ventral—PV = 5) differed significantly between the four anatomical quadrants (Kruskal–Wallis test; p = 0.0001). The prevalence of D. latus plerocercoid larvae in European perch from Lake Iseo has long been investigated, but without an appropriate sampling design. With the present study, a broader analysis in spatial distribution has been added to the existing literature, revealing new information about D. latus distribution and occurrence in Lake Iseo, with new data that will be useful for health authorities and future studies.
Highlights
A total of 598 specimens of P. fluviatilis were caught between February 2019 and December 2019 (Table 1) and examined for the presence of D. latus
The prevalence of plerocercoid larvae of D. latus was: 10.2% (26 out of 256) (95% confidence interval (CI) 7–14.5) in the northern area; 7.3% (10 out of 137)
For the two sampling sites in the northern area, the prevalence was 9% (21 out of 233) and 21.7% (5 out of 23)
Summary
Diphyllobothrium latum) is one of the most frequent agents of diphyllobothriasis in humans [1]. D. latus, commonly known as the broad tapeworm or fish tapeworm, can be found in the subarctic and temperate areas of the Eurasian Continent; it is occasionally reported in the Arctic and Australia [2]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5070; doi:10.3390/ijerph17145070 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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