Morphological features of the nasal blood fluke Trichobilharzia regenti (Schistosomatidae, Digenea) from naturally infected hosts
Abstract
In comparison to the original description of Trichobilharzia regenti Horák, Kolářová et Dvořák 1998 adults of which were isolated from experimentally infected A. platyrhynchos f. domestica and Cairina moschata f. domestica ducklings the study shows that the parasites obtained from naturally infected birds are markedly larger. In the naturally infected birds indistinct sex-related size difference was also confirmed; males were more abundant in the material than females.
Previously unknown morphological features detected in the present study include, e.g. subterminal spines on the oral sucker directed to the oral opening, spine pattern on the apical part of acetabulum and long tegumental spines (up to 16 microm) in the gonad and tail regions of both sexes. In male and females, detailed anatomy of genital organ is presented.