Natural infection of the land snails Xerolenta obvia, Zebrina detrita, and Monacha samsunensis by Brachylaima sp. metacercariae in Kastamonu, Turkey

Authors: FATMA MOHAMED ABDUALRAZIG KHALIFA ISMAIL, GÖZDE GÜRELLİ

Abstract: This study investigated the prevalence of infection, and some of its morphological features, of the land snails Xerolenta obvia, Zebrina detrita, and Monacha samsunensis (Mollusca: Pulmonata) by metacercariae of Brachylaima sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in Kastamonu, Turkey. The land snails were collected in spring and autumn. The prevalence rates of infection by metacercariae of Brachylaima sp. were 5.74%, 1.68%, and 17.35% in X. obvia, Z. detrita, and M. samsunensis, respectively. This study reports for the first time the natural occurrence of Brachylaima sp. unencysted metacercariae in the hepatopancreas of these three land snails.

Keywords: Brachylaima sp., metacercariae, Monacha samsunensis, Xerolenta obvia, Zebrina detrita, Turkey

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