Occurrence and host associations of Dollfustrema bagarii (Digenea: Bucephalidae) in channel catfish cage culture in Northern Vietnam
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A survey was conducted across 11 provinces in Northern Vietnam to investigate the distribution of Dollfustrema bagarii metacercariae - a causative agent of significant losses in cultured channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) - and to identify its first intermediate host. A total of 337 fish specimens were collected from 103 farms. Metacercariae of D. bagarii were detected in 72 farms (69.9% of farms), and 44.51% of the sampled fish were positive. The prevalence in lowland provinces was 3.14 times higher than that in mountainous regions (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed between fish cultured in reservoir/lake and those in river (p = 0.634). We identified the golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) as the first intermediate host of D. bagarii. The morphological characteristics of its daughter sporocyst and cercariae were described, and the identification was confirmed through comparison of 28 S rDNA sequences with those of D. bagarii.
Source: Parasitology Research
Institutions: Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Viện Sinh học, Far Eastern Federal University, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity FEB RAS, Georgia Southern University, University of Copenhagen
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,590
Award: G7461987840
OpenAlex ID: W4416407640