THE PREVALENCE OF DICROCOELIIDAE (DIGENEA) LARVAL STAGES IN THE FIRST INTERMEDIATE HOST Helix lucorum, 1758 IN ESKİŞEHİR AND BARTIN PROVINCES OF TURKEY

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Dicrocoeliidae larval stages in Helix lucorum found in Eskişehir and Bartın provinces of Turkey. Snails were collected from the pastures of Eskişehir and Bartın. The snails were anesthetised with 50 mM sterilized magnesium chloride (MgCl2) before dissected. Internal organs of the snail, specifically hepatopancreas, were analysed with a stereomicroscope for sporocyst and cercaria. The larval forms were identified and monitored with a light microscope. The prevalence of Dicrocoeliidae larval stages in Helix lucorum in Eskişehir and Bartın was found to be 4.6% and 7.0%, respectively. Although cercariae in sporocysts were immature at the beginning of May, they began to grow and leave the sporocysts in the middle of May. It was understood that Helix lucorum served as an intermediate host to Dicrocoeliid trematodes in Eskişehir and Bartın provinces of Turkey.