The variability of metacercariae of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum under the influence of host species was studied experimentally. Four fish groups - two of Cyprinus carpio and two of Poecilia reticulata - were infected with the cercariae of D. pseudospathaceum originating from two snail species Lymnaea stagnalis and Galba palustris. For analysis of variability 14 characters of 152 metacercariae were measured and 8 indices were calculated. The morphometric data of the four experimental groups were examined statistically using a two way analysis of variance. The metacercariae of the four examined groups show highly significant variation in almost all analyzed characters. For particular characters a highly significant fish and snail host influence on the variation was noted. The source of variation was analyzed and the variability of previously investigated D. paracaudum was compared.
W.Stefanski Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, L.Pasteura 3, 00-973 Warsaw, Poland
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