Cercarial Trematode Infections in Freshwater Snails of Maha Sarakham Province, Northeast Thailand.
- 1Biomedical Science Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand.
- 2Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand.
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand.
Abstract
Background
Trematode-borne diseases remain an important public health issue in Thailand, where freshwater ecosystems support a wide diversity of snail species that act as intermediate hosts. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections among freshwater snails in Maha Sarakham Province.Methods
This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to ascertain the prevalence of fluke larvae in freshwater snails in Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand during April 2023. Snail samples were selected from four freshwater bodies using the counts per unit of time methodology, with five distinct sampling points established at each site. Cercaria larvae detection was conducted using the cercaria shedding method. The cercariae were examined under a stereomicroscope to classify them based on morphological characteristics.Results
Among the 959 individual snails examined, 11 species of freshwater snails were identified, including three cercarial trematodes, Pleurolophocercous cercaria, Furcocercous cercaria, and Xiphidiocercaria, in which Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa and Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos were infected. The overall prevalence of trematode infection was 1.04%, with 10 infected snails. The Chi Long Forest Park Reservoir exhibited the highest infection rate at 2.33%, followed by the Nang Chong Stream at 0.60% and the Ban Koeng Reservoir at 0.45%, respectively. The prevalence of trematode infections in four freshwater bodies was not significantly different (P>0.05).Conclusion
The findings of this study provide essential baseline data for developing effective trematode control and prevention strategies in the study area. Accordingly, targeted management of intermediate host snail populations is critical for interrupting the trematode life cycle and minimizing transmission risk.
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BibTeX
@article{jaroenchaiwattanachote2026cercarial,
title = {{Cercarial Trematode Infections in Freshwater Snails of Maha Sarakham Province, Northeast Thailand.}},
author = {Chavanut Jaroenchaiwattanachote and Jitsuda Kullawat and Tongjit Thanchomnang and Supawadee Piratae and Kritsana Homwutthiwong and Weerachai Saijuntha and Teputid Kuasit},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22598},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974503},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cercarial Trematode Infections in Freshwater Snails of Maha Sarakham Province, Northeast Thailand.
AU - Chavanut Jaroenchaiwattanachote
AU - Jitsuda Kullawat
AU - Tongjit Thanchomnang
AU - Supawadee Piratae
AU - Kritsana Homwutthiwong
AU - Weerachai Saijuntha
AU - Teputid Kuasit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Iranian journal of parasitology
DO - 10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22598
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974503
AB - Background Trematode-borne diseases remain an important public health issue in Thailand, where freshwater ecosystems support a wide diversity of snail species that act as intermediate hosts. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections among freshwater snails in Maha Sarakham Province.Methods This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to ascertain the prevalence of fluke larvae in freshwater snails in Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand during April 2023. Snail samples were selected from four freshwater bodies using the counts per unit of time methodology, with five distinct sampling points established at each site. Cercaria larvae detection was conducted using the cercaria shedding method. The cercariae were examined under a stereomicroscope to classify them based on morphological characteristics.Results Among the 959 individual snails examined, 11 species of freshwater snails were identified, including three cercarial trematodes, Pleurolophocercous cercaria, Furcocercous cercaria, and Xiphidiocercaria, in which Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa and Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos were infected. The overall prevalence of trematode infection was 1.04%, with 10 infected snails. The Chi Long Forest Park Reservoir exhibited the highest infection rate at 2.33%, followed by the Nang Chong Stream at 0.60% and the Ban Koeng Reservoir at 0.45%, respectively. The prevalence of trematode infections in four freshwater bodies was not significantly different (P>0.05).Conclusion The findings of this study provide essential baseline data for developing effective trematode control and prevention strategies in the study area. Accordingly, targeted management of intermediate host snail populations is critical for interrupting the trematode life cycle and minimizing transmission risk.
SN - 1735-7020
SN - 2008-238X
ER -