The first record of Philophthalmus lucipetus (Trematoda: Philophthalmidae) in the great egret (Ardea alba) from Turkey

Authors: MEHMET ÖZTÜRK, ŞİNASİ UMUR

Abstract: The genus Philophthalmus, Looss 1899 (Echinostoma: Philophthalmidae) is a cosmopolitan group of parasites that infects the eyes of birds and mammals, including humans. A great egret (Ardea alba) was found dead in Kızılırmak Delta, Samsun, Turkey. The bird was transported to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun Turkey, for a necropsy. In the parasitological examination, a trematode was detected in the eye, and then it was identified as Philophthalmus lucipetus. This is the first report of the zoonotic parasite P. lucipetus in Turkey.

Keywords: Ardea alba, eye fluke, Philophthalmus lucipetus, zoonosis

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