Natural infection of the land snails Xerolenta obvia, Zebrina detrita, andMonacha samsunensis by Brachylaima sp. metacercariae in Kastamonu, Turkey

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of infection, and some of its morphological features, of the land snails Xerolenta obvia, Zebrina detrita, and Monacha samsunensis (Mollusca: Pulmonata) by metacercariae of Brachylaima sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in Kastamonu, Turkey. The land snails were collected in spring and autumn. The prevalence rates of infection by metacercariae of Brachylaima sp. were 5.74%, 1.68%, and 17.35% in X. obvia, Z. detrita, and M. samsunensis, respectively. This study reports for the first time the natural occurrence of Brachylaima sp. unencysted metacercariae in the hepatopancreas of these three land snails.