Some Fresh-water Larval Trematodes from Cheshire

Abstract

The larval trematodes described in this paper were obtained from fresh-water molluscs collected from Rostherne Mere and a pond near Ashley, both in Cheshire. Rostherne Mere is a large sheet of water and carries an extensive fauna, vertebrate and invertebrate. The molluscs were collected from various fixed positions in the littoral region, and this method has confirmed previous observations (unpublished) in other stretches of fresh-water on the variation in the distribution and localisation of infected molluscs. How far this may be related to movements of the final host or to physical factors affecting the migration of the molluscs is at present uncertain; further observations are being made in an attempt to elucidate this problem. The molluscs were isolated in the laboratory in 3 × 1 glass specimen tubes, when the infected specimens were easily seen by the swarming of the cercariae, and all observations (including measurements) were made on these living, fully developed cercariae. Infected snails were later crushed in physiologically normal saline in order to obtain living sporocysts or rediae for examination. Measurements are, of necessity, only approximate owing to the slight pressure exerted by the weight of the cover-glass and the great powers of contraction and extension of these larval forms. Neutral red was used as an intra vitam stain; it also inhibits movement. Of the five species described four are new, the fifth, for which a further stage in the life history is described, being little known and not previously recorded for this country.