Studies on Intestinal Trematodes in KoreaII. Identification of the Metacercariae of Heterophyes heterophyes nocens in Mullets of three Southern Coastal Areas

Abstract

The existence of life cycle of Heterophyes heterophyes nocens, in three southern coastal areas of Korea, i.e., Hadan Dong, Pusan City; Geoje Island, South Kyongsang Do and YongsanpoEup, South Cholla Do, was proved by identifying the metacercariae in mullets, Mugil cephalus, and by obtaining adult worms from experimental animals during the period from May 1978 to October 1979. Infection rates of the mullets with the metacercariae were from 5.9% to 12.7% according to areas and a total of 821 metacercariae were collected from 11 infected mullets. And a total of 88 adult worms were recovered from small intestine of the experimental animals on the 3rd to 20th day after infection. The size of the worms increased according to the age of infection. The adult worms were distinct with a genital sucker near the ventral sucker. A total of 52~ 62 rodlets are arranged in a row on the genital sucker. So they were identified as Heterophyes heterophyes nocens (Onji et Nishio, 1916). The possibility of prevalence of human infection in southern coasts, Korea was suggested and discussed.