Second Intermediate Host-Specificity of Haematoloechus complexus and Haematoloechus medioplexus (Digenea: Haematoloechidae)

Authors

Scott D. Snyder, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
John J. Janovy Jr., University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

12-1994

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (December 1994) 80(6): 1,052-1,055. Copyright 1994, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

Second intermediate host-specificity was examined for two species of the frog lung fluke genus Haematoloechus. Nine species of freshwater arthropods were exposed to cercariae of H. complexus and H. medioplexus. Metacercariae of H. complexus developed in all arthropod species used. Metacercariae of H. medioplexus developed only in anisopteran odonate naiads. This difference in host utilization may have epizootiological implications. The potential development of H. complexus in a greater number of arthropods than H. medioplexus may increase the chances of ingestion of H. complexus by an anuran host. The range of arthropods parasitized by H. complexus indicates that host-specificity of the metacercarial stage of this fluke is not restricted by the phylogeny of aquatic arthropods.