The life cycle ofBrachylaima ruminae n. sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae), a parasite of rodents (original) (raw)

Abstract

The life cycle of_Brachylaima ruminae_ n.sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae), a duodenal parasite of rodents on the Mediterranean island of Formentera (Spain) is elucidated. The new species follows a terrestrial triheteroxenous life cycle. Eggs passed in the faeces of the definitive host must be ingested by a specific first intermediate host, the land snail_Rumina decollata_. Branched cercariogenous sporocysts develop in the digestive gland. Microcercous cercariae come out through the terminal birth pores of the branches. Cercariae shed by the snail are terrestrial, crawling on humid substratum. They contact the second intermediate host, another land snail, principally the species_R. decollata_ and less frequently slugs and Helicids. Cercariae enter via the excretory pore and kidney duct to their specific final location, the kidney. Unencysted metacercariae develop in the kidney (also, less frequently, in the pedal glands) to the mature, infective stage. Infective metacercariae infest the definitive host when ingested together with the snail.

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  1. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibañez 13, 46010, Valencia, Spain
    S. Mas-Coma
  2. Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
    I. Montoliu

Authors

  1. S. Mas-Coma
  2. I. Montoliu

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Mas-Coma, S., Montoliu, I. The life cycle of_Brachylaima ruminae_ n. sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae), a parasite of rodents.Z. Parasitenkd. 72, 739–753 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00925095

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