Rodent hosts of Maritrema sp. (Digenea, Microphallidae) in Sardinia Island
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Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia
Publication date: 2003-10-31
Hystrix It. J. Mamm. 2003;14(IV ATIt Congress Supplement)
ABSTRACT
Prospections on helminth fauna of rodents were carried out in the Cedrino river
(Eastern of Sardinia island). Twelve Rattus rattus (L., 1758) and eight Mus domesticus
(Schwarz & Schwarz, 1943) were captured by Sherman traps. Parasitological
study revealed in R. rattus the presence of an intestinal helminth belonging to the
genus Maritrema (family Microphallidae). The transmission of this Digenetic
Trematode among vertebrates involves the participation of aquatic invertebrate
organisms, molluscs and crustacea, acting as intermediate hosts. Dissection of 117
individuals of the Amphipod Crustacea Gammarus italicus, collected in the same
biotope, allowed the detection of encysted metacercariae. These larvae constitute
the infesting stage of the parasite for vertebrates, acting these as definitive hosts
ingesting parasitized crustacea as preys. Adults of Maritrema sp. were also obtained
experimentally in the laboratory mice (Mus domesticus CD1 strain). These were
infested by inoculating them, using gastric probe, metacercarial cysts isolated from
G. italicus. Post-infection mice dissection was performed at different intervals of
time getting adults in various maturity stages. Experimental facts confirm that
Maritrema sp., as it occurs in other trematodes, do not present strict specificity to
the definitive host, being able to develop as well in Mus. In nature, the presence or
absence of this digenean in mammals species will be dependent of host ethological
factors, mainly related to feeding habitats.
This study was partially supported by the ?Comissionat per Recerca i Universitats
de la Generalitat de Catalunya? 2001SGR00088.