SITES OF ENCYSTMENT BY THE METACERCARIAE OF ECHINOPARYPHIUM-RECURVATUM IN LYMNAEA-PEREGRA

Experimental infection of Echinoparyphium recurvatum von Linstow (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) cercariae in the snail second intermediate host Lymnaea peregra Muller shows that metacercarial encystment takes place on the lining of the mantle cavity, pericardial cavity and kidney lumen, with the mantle cavity the most preferred site. All three sites are accessible via the body openings. The metacercariae appear to be more susceptible to encapsulation in the visceral mass than in the cavity of the mantle, pericardium and the lumen of the kidney.