THE OVERWINTERING OF EGGS, INTRAMOLLUSCAL STAGES AND METACERCARIAE OFFASCIOLA-HEPATICA UNDER THE TEMPERATURES OF A MEDITERRANEAN AREA (MADRID, SPAIN)

Citation
M. Luzonpena et al., THE OVERWINTERING OF EGGS, INTRAMOLLUSCAL STAGES AND METACERCARIAE OFFASCIOLA-HEPATICA UNDER THE TEMPERATURES OF A MEDITERRANEAN AREA (MADRID, SPAIN), Veterinary parasitology, 55(1-2), 1994, pp. 143-148
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Parasitiology,"Veterinary Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
03044017
Volume
55
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
143 - 148
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-4017(1994)55:1-2<143:TOOEIS>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
The survival of embryonated and unembryonated eggs, of snails with mat ure or immature infection and of metacercariae over the winter of a Me diterranean area was analyzed. Embryonated eggs were more resistant th an unembryonated eggs to cold weather, leaving a residual contaminatio n which was responsible for earlier spring infection of the snail. Ove rwintering was similar in snail populations with both mature and immat ure infections although the lifespan was shorter in the former. Both s nail populations survived in the mildest winter but not in the coldest . Only metacercariae from mid autumn were able to overwinter in an sig nificant proportion (45%) but they were non-viable by mid spring. Our results suggest that in very cold winters no risk for grazing animals should be expected in spring.