Laboratory Observations on Exorchis mupingensis (Trematoda: Cryptogonimidae)

Life cycle of the trematode worm, Exorchis mupingensis, includes Oncomelania hupensis snail as first intermediate host and several small freshwater fishes as second intermediate hosts, while the carnivorous fish, Parasilurus asotus, serves as a final host of this parasite. P. asotus fish, Labidochromis caeruleus fish and E. mupingensis cercariae were used in the laboratory to determine the time that mature metacercariae of E. mupingensis take to develop into an adult worm within the final host. Results showed that the period of development of the mature metacercariae of E. mupingensis into an adult worm within the final host, P. asotus, is ca. 30 d.