A New Harmostome Adolescaria from Campeloma decisum Say
1935; American Society of Parasitologists; Volume: 21; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/3271755
ISSN1937-2345
Autores Tópico(s)Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
ResumoDuring April and May, I933, large numbers of a gastropod, Campeloma decisum Say, were collected at Constantia, N. Y., from a pond formed by a dam across Frederick Creek, and serving as a reservoir for the operations of the State Fish Hatchery. All of the snails collected proved to be females,1 and were found to be IOO per cent infested with a larval trematode belonging to the Harmostomidae. This larva was in the adolescaria stage, and lay packed in large numbers in the uterus of the snail. The worms were especially abundant in the proximal portion of the uterus, but were also numerous in the lower portion of the tube where they found lodgement between the developing young. They were both free in the lumen and attached to the wall by means of their suckers, and not surrounded by a cyst. Depending upon the size of the host from OO to 400 worms occurred in a single snail. In other species of this group the transfer of the adolescaria from the snail to the final host is accomplished when the latter eats the former. If this method of transfer applies in the present case then the final host must be some bird or mammal that occasionally feeds upon Campeloma. The worms are slow moving but very muscular, and have considerable powers of extension and contraction. For the most part when undisturbed they lie motionless at nearly full length upon the bottom of a dish of tap water. In life the larva is of a ruddy color. Seen in mass through the translucent walls of the oviduct they impart a salmon pink tinge to the organ.
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