Changing patterns of infection with digenetic larval trematodes from fresh-water fish in river Taewha, Kyongnam province.

Recent patterns of infection with digenetic larval trematodes in fresh-water and brackish-water fish were studied in three locations of the river Taewha during the period from April to October 1988, and compared with the data reported previously in the same river. Of 16 species of fish examined, the encysted larvae of Cyathocotyle orientalis were found most frequently from 9 species of fresh-water fish. The metacercariae of Echinochasmus sp., Metacercaria hasegawai and Metagonimus yokogawai were found 8 species, those of Clonorchis sinensis from 7 species, and Exorchis oviformis and Metorchis orientalis from 5 species of fish. The infection rates of fish with C. sinensis metacercariae were not lower than those reported in 1980, wheres their intensity of infection was found lowered in 3 species, Coreobagrus brevicorpus, Gnathopogon atromaculatus, and Puntungia herzi. The infection rates of 3 species of fish with M. yokogawai metacercariae were lower than the results in 1982, while the rate was higher in 2 species, Zacco platypus, and Z. temmincki, and rather stationary in Plecoglossus altivelis. The intensity of infection in several species of fish appeared rather higher than in 1980. the encysted larvae of C. orientalis, Echinochasmus sp., E. oviformis and Metacercaria hasegawai showed variations in infection rates of fish in 1980 and in the present study. It was found that the rate of infection with digenetic larval trematodes in fresh-water fish was still relatively high in the river Taewha, and the metacercarial burden in the fish varied greatly by different fish in 1980 and in the present study.