Korean J Parasitol.  2008 Sep;46(3):165-169. 10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.165.

Microphallus koreana n. sp. (Trematoda: Microphallidae) Transmitted by a Marine Crab, Macrophthalmus dilatatus

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Parasitology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 136-701, Korea.
  • 2Department of Parasitology and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
  • 3Department of Parasitology and Institute of Health Science, Gyongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 660-751, Korea.
  • 4Department of Diagnostic Radiology College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Korea.
  • 5Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine, Konkuk University, School of Medicine, Chungju 380-701, Korea.
  • 6Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Korea. bbbenji@freechal.com

Abstract

Microphallus species occur primarily as intestinal parasites of birds and mammals, and metacercariae of a new species belonging to this genus have been discovered from the crab, Macrophthalmus dilatatus, in the Republic of Korea. The metacercaria of this fluke was round with 2 thick walls, and the excysted one had mature genital organs. The adult flukes recovered from experimentally infected chicks had numerous intrauterine eggs, well-developed pars prostatica, widely bifurcating ceca, and prominent uterine bulge. After observing internal structures, it was concluded that this species is different from any other known Microphallus spp. Based on the morphology of metacercariae and adult flukes, we describe this specimen as a new species, Microphallus koreana n. sp.

Keyword

Microphallus koreana; microphallid; Macrophathalmus dilatatus; crab; chick

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brachyura/*parasitology
Chickens
Rats
Trematoda/*anatomy & histology/*classification/isolation & purification
Trematode Infections/parasitology/transmission
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