Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Aug;54(4):485-496. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.485.

Two Echinostome Species, Pegosomum bubulcum and Nephrostomum ramosum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae), from an Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus, in Republic of Korea

• Choe S
• Lee D
• Park H
• Jeon HK
• Lee Y
• Kim E
• Na KJ
• Eom KS

• KMID: 2353579
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.485

Abstract

We describe 2 echinostome species recovered from an Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus, from Cheongju-si (city), Chungcheongbuk-do (province), Korea. Total 72 Pegosomum bubulcum specimens were recovered from the bile duct. They were 7,566×2,938 μm in average size and had 27 collar spines with vitelline extension from anterior 1/3 level of the esophagus to mid-level of the posterior testis as characteristic features. Total 9 specimens of Nephrostomum ramosum were recovered in the small intestines of the bird. They were ribbon-shaped, 11,378×2,124 μm in average size, and morphologically variable in some organs, i.e., the number of collar spines (47-50), the shape of ovary and testes, and the extension of vitelline follicles. These morphological variations observed in a single host indicated that these features are not critical for the classification of Nephrostomum species and thus were reconsidered taxonomically as synonym of N. ramosum. This study is the first report documenting and describing both flukes and their associated genera in Korea.

Keyword

Pegosomum bubulcum; Nephrostomum ramosum; Bubulcus ibis coromandus; echinostome; parasite; cattle egret

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bile Ducts
Birds
Cattle*
Chungcheongbuk-do
Classification
Esophagus
Female
Intestine, Small
Korea
Ovary
Parasites
Republic of Korea*
Spine
Testis
Trematoda
Vitellins
Vitellins