Temporal variations in the infection of a population of Cerithidea cingulata by larval trematodes in Kuwait Bay

• Published in: Journal of helminthology 2000-03, Vol.74 (1), p.17-22
• Main Authors: Al-Kandari, W.Y., Abdul-Salam, J., Meakins, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cerithidea; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; intermediate hosts; Kuwait - epidemiology; Larva; Male; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Prevalence; Sea water ecosystems; Seasons; Sex Factors; Snails - growth & development; Snails - parasitology; species diversity; Synecology; temporal variation; Trematoda - classification; Trematoda - isolation & purification; trematode infections; Trematode Infections - epidemiology; Trematode Infections - parasitology; Vectors. Intermediate hosts
• ISSN: 0022-149X; 1475-2697
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X00000032

The prosobranch gastropod Cerithidea cingulata (Gastropoda: Potamididae) in Kuwait Bay was examined for larval trematode infections over a 17-month period. A total of 2537 snails were examined and 1265 (49.9%) found to be infected with one or more species of trematodes. The component community in the snail comprised 12 species representing the families Cyathocotylidae (2), Echinostomatidae (2), Haplosplanchnidae (1), Heterophyidae (2), Microphallidae (1), Philophthalmidae (2), Plagiorchiidae (1) and Schistosomatidae (1). Cyathocotylid II (41.6%) was by far the most prevalent species followed by the microphallid (3.9%), the two species comprised 90% of the total trematode fauna. The prevalence of infection increased with shell size and was significantly higher in male (47%) than female (33%) snails. Multiple infections were observed in only 15 (1.2%) of the infected snails; cyathocotylid I and cyathocotylid II combination occurred 14 times and heterophyid I and the microphallid occurred once. Trematode species were more diverse and prevalent in winter, and cercarial shedding peaked in summer. Behaviour of the definitive host and snail population dynamics were probably the major contributors to the detected temporal pattern in the infections.