Preliminary studies of the helminth parasites of Limicolaria Aurora in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Specimens of Limicolaria aurora collected from Ile-Ife area were surveyed for infection with parasitic helminthes. The snails were picked from bushes and dissected and examined in the laboratory. Four different helminth parasites comprising of 3 nematodes and a digenetic trematode were observed in L. aurora. The nematodes include the larvae of Angiostrongylus. cantonensis, the unidentified Nematode I and another unidentified nematode (Nematode II). Prevalences were 25.3% for A. cantonensis, 4.7% for Nematode I and 2.0% for Nematode II. The mean intensities of infection for the three nematodes were 12.4 ± 3.7, 1.3 ± 0.1 and 3.0 respectively. The trematode, which is yet unidentified has a prevalence of 80.7% and mean intensity of 53.7 ± 7.5.

Key Words: Limicolaria aurora, Angiostrongylus. cantonensis, prevalence, trematode.

Ife Journal of Science Vol.6(2) 2004: 105-107