Stictodora fuscatum (Heterophyidae) metacercariae encysted in gobies, Acanthogobius flavimanus.

Abstract

The metacercariae of the genus Stictodora encysted in gobies, Acanthogobius flavimanus, purchased from a local market of Haenam-gun, Chollanam-do, were identified as those of S. fuscatum. A total of 1,437 metacercariae were collected from 30 gobies and some of them were orally fed to cats in order to obtain the adult worms. The metacercariae were 0.194-0.301 mm by 0.168-0.270 mm in size, yellowish brown, round to elliptical, and with a thin and transparent cyst wall. The excysted larvae were 0.280-0.423 mm long and 0.150-0.184 mm wide, beset with numerous tegumental spines on the anterior half of the body, and equipped with a characteristic ventrogenital sac. Total 21 adult worms were recovered from 2 cats 7 days after infection. The adult worms were small, leaf-like, 0.514-0.918 mm long and 0.235-0.377 mm wide. The ventrogenital sac was elliptical and its gonotyl was armed with 13-18 spines which were radially arranged and appeared as fan-shape. It has been confirmed that A. flavimanus is a second intermediate host of S. fuscatum in Korea.