Infections with Zoonotic Trematode Metacercariae in Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, from Coastal Areas of Republic of Korea

Abstract

To investigate the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae in yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, from coastal areas of the Republic of Korea (Korea), we examined total 344 gobies from 21 localities with an artificial digestion method from 2013 to 2017. The metacercariae of Stictodora lari were most frequently detected in 45.3% goby from 7 localities, i.e., Taean-gun (Chungcheongnam-do), Gochang-gun (Jeollabuk-do), Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Haenam-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun (Gyeongsangnam-do). Their infection rates were 90.0%, 66.7%, 46.7%, 8.0%, 3.3%, 26.7%, and 86.7% and intensities were 1,090, 6.2, 1.6 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, and 7.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyopsis continua metacercariae were found in 38.2% goby from 6 localities, i.e., Gochang-gun, Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Gangjin-gun, Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do) and Goseong-gun, and their intensities were relatively low, 1–21 metacercariae. Stictodora fuscata metacercariae were detected in 61.3% goby from 4 localities, i.e., Taean-gun, Gochang-gun, Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun. Their infection rates were 90.0%, 53.3%, 5.9%, and 73.3% and intensities were 1,081, 3.1, 3.0, and 10.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyes nocens metacercariae were found in 55.0% goby from Muan-gun and Shinan-gun. Total 3 metacercariae of Isthmiophora hortensis were detected in 2 (8.0%) gobies from Shinan-gun. Total 15 metacercariae of Centrocestus armatus were detected in 5 gobies (33.3%) from Gyeongpo-ho (ho means lake) in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. The present study suggests that yellowfin goby, A. flavimanus, acts as the infection sources of zoonotic intestinal flukes in western and southern coastal areas than in eastern coastal areas of Korea.

Infections with Digenetic Trematode Metacercariae in Freshwater Fishes from Two Visiting Sites of Migratory Birds in Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea

“…Among 7 fish species (total No. of fish) examined in each surveyed sites, 6 ones, i.e., L. macrochirus (80), E. erythropterus (68), H. eigenmanni (52), C. auratus (32), C. carpio (28), and M. salmoides (27), were commonly investigated, and remain each one was A. gracilis (20) in Junam-jeosuji and P. parva (40) in Woopo-neup. Therefore, in this study, we examined total 347 fish in 8 species from 2 visiting sites of migratory birds and a total of 312 fish in 22 species from the control site, Yangcheon, in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.…”

“…Fish species (No. of fish) examined were M. salmoides (36), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (31), Acheilognathus majusculus (30), Zacco platypus (27), L. macrochirus (25), C. auratus (21), Zacco temminckii (20), A. gracilis (20), Zacco koreanus (20), Pseudogobio esocinus (15), Squalidus japonicus coreanus (15), Pungtungia herzi (12), Coreoperca herzi (9), Acheilognathus rhombeus (7), Hemibarbus labeo (6), Hemibarbus longirostris (5), Odontobutis platycephala (4), Squalidus gracilis majimae (3), Acheilognathus koreensis (2), Acanthorhodeus macropterus (2), Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis morii (1), Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae (1).…”

“…On the other hand, many Korean workers have been investigated the infection status with digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) including Clonorchis sinensis in fishes from various ecological environments, such as river, stream, lake, pond, swamp and even coast, to estimate the DTM endemicities [18][19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Most of these studies were performed on the specific trematode species related with human infections, such as C. sinensis, heterophyid including Metagonimus yokogawai and echinostomatid flukes, in Korea [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. However, there have been not so many studies on the avian trematode metacercariae (ATM) in fishes from the visiting sites of migratory birds in Korea.…”

Infection Status of Isthmiophora hortensis Metacercariae in Dark Sleepers, Odontobutis Species, from Some Water Systems of the Republic of Korea

“…Several species of freshwater fishes, i.e., Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Misgurnus mizolepis, Odontobutis obscura interrupta ( O. interrupta ), Moroco oxycephalus ( Rhynchocypris oxycephalus ), Coreoperca kawamebari and Squalidus coreanus ( S. japonicus coreanus ), yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus , and tadpoles of Rana nigromaculata were reported as the second intermediate hosts and/or the source of human infection in Korea. Most of these reports were performed in limited areas and with small number of animals [29–35]. Therefore, we examined the dark sleepers, Odontobutis spp., broadly collected from 13 sites in 5 rivers, i.e., Mangyeong-gang, Geum-gang, Tamjin-gang, Seomjin- gang and Nakdong-gang, of Korea.…”

“…Ryang [20] detected IhMc in 30 (40.5%) out of 74 loaches from Chungju-ho and the upper streams of Namhan- gang. In another fish hosts of I. hortensis, M. mizolepis, R. oxycephalus, C. kawamebari, S. japonicus coreanus and A. flavimanus , small number of IhMc were detected in Korea [29–35].…”