Metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Digenea) in European newts Triturus carnifex and Lissotriton vulgaris (Caudata: Salamandridae). Issue 3 (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caffara, M.; Bruni, G.; Paoletti, C.; Gustinelli, A.; Fioravanti, M.L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of helminthology. Volume 88:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Helminthology -- Periodicals; 592.3
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X13000151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-149X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Adults of <italic>Clinostomum</italic> spp. are digenetic trematodes found in fish-eating birds, reptiles and occasionally mammals, including humans. Freshwater snails serve as first intermediate hosts and many fish species and amphibians as second intermediate hosts. To date, amphibian hosts of <italic>Clinostomum</italic> metacercariae include members of urodele and anuran families in North America, but no data are available on infections of European amphibians, including newts. In this study, we characterize infections of <italic>Clinostomum complanatum</italic> metacercariae in four smooth (<italic>Lissotriton vulgaris</italic>) and 18 Italian crested newts (<italic>Triturus carnifex</italic>) from an artificial pond located in a protected area in Tuscany, Italy. Parasites were surgically removed from the infected newts and identified both morphologically and using sequences of a mitochondrial gene, cytochrome <italic>c</italic> oxidase I, and the ribosomal markers, internal transcribed spacers. This is the first record of <italic>C. complanatum</italic> in European newts and, more generally, in amphibians in Europe.</p> </abstract>