Background and Objective: Trematode infections
have been considered as important public health in
Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the
prevalence of trematode infections in Bithynia
siamensis goniomphalos snails and analyze the
association between prevalence of trematode
infections with many factors.
Method: Cercarial infections in B. si amensi s
goniomphalos were studied in 2 localities of in- and
out-season rice paddy fields in Khon Kaen Province
(January 2014-February 2015).
Results: The average prevalence of cercarial infections
in snails during the studying period was 2.82% (14
types of cercariae) in locality 1 and 2.67% (11 types
of cercariae) in locality 2. The prevalence of cercarial
infections with Ophthalmoxiphidiocercariae and
Pleurolophocercous in female were higher than male
snail. The prevalence of cercarial infections with
Xiphidiocercariae (type virgulate 1, 2, and 3),
Ophthalmoxiphidiocercariae, and Pleurolophocercous
in large-sized snails were higher than medium and
small-sized snails. Snails which were found in rainy
season were higher prevalence of infection with
Xiphidiocercariae type virgulate 2, Ophthalmoxiphi diocercariae and Pleurolophocercous than hot-dry
season. Snails which were found in cool-dry season
were higher prevalence of infection with
Xiphidiocercariae (type virgulate 2 and 3) Ophthalmoxiphidiocercariae,
and Pleurolophocercous than hot-dry
season. But the prevalence of cercarial infections in
the correlation factors of mean daily air temperature,
average monthly rainfall, and salinity were not different
significantly.
Conclusions: Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos snails
served as intermediate host of various trematodes.
Female snail was higher prevalence of infection than
male snail. Large-sized snails were higher prevalence
of infection than were medium-sized snails.
Keywords
cercarial infection, Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos, in- and out-season rice paddy field