Discovery of Maritrema jebuensis n. sp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) from the Asian Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, in Korea

• Published in: Korean journal of parasitology Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 335 - 338
• Main Authors: Chung, O.S., Chungnam Development Institute, Gongju, Republic of Korea, Lee, H.J., Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Sohn, W.M., Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea, Lee, S.H., Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Park, I.Y., Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Oh, S.A., Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Chai, J.Y., Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Seo, M., Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한기생충학열대의학회 01.12.2010; The Korean Society for Parasitology
• Subjects: Animals; Asian shore crab; Brachyura - parasitology; Brief Communication; Disease Models, Animal; intestinal fluke; Jebu-do; Maritrema jebuensis; Metacercariae - anatomy & histology; Metacercariae - isolation & purification; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; Republic of Korea; Trematoda - anatomy & histology; Trematoda - classification; Trematoda - isolation & purification; Trematode Infections - parasitology; Trematode Infections - pathology; Republic of Korea; intestinal fluke; Jebu-do; Maritrema jebuensis; Asian shore crab
• ISSN: 0023-4001; 1738-0006
• DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2010.48.4.335

Maritrema spp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) are parasites of birds, but have not been found in the Republic of Korea. In this study, metacercariae of Maritrema sp. were discovered in the Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, caught in the mud-flats of Jebu-do, Hwasung-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and the adult flukes were confirmed by experimental infection into mice. Based on the symmetric ribbon-like vitellarium, adult flukes of Maritrema sp. were identified, but did not belong to previously described species in terms of the following morphologic characteristics: ceca reaching to the lateral wall at the anterior border of the ovary; ventral sucker larger than oral sucker; a prominent metraterm; and vitellarium forming a complete ring. Hence, we named this microphallid M. jebuensis n. sp. after the island where the second intermediate hosts were collected. From this study, it has been shown that Maritrema sp. is distributed in Korea and transmitted by the Asian shore crab, H. sanguineus.