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Natura Croatica : Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici, Vol. 33 No. 1, 2024.

Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.20302/NC.2024.33.13

The first record of Aspidogaster conchicola (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae) in the freshwater mussel Unio pictorum in Croatia

Jasna Lajtner orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-6427-0750 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Horvatovac 102a, Zagreb, Croatia
Krešimir Matanović orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-8878-3526 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, Croatia
Emil Gjurčević ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, Croatia
Dušica Ivanković orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-0349-7908 ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Kiralj orcid id orcid.org/0009-0005-2019-8784 ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
Krešimira Trgovčić orcid id orcid.org/0009-0002-7602-9208 ; Vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o. Karlovac, Gažanski trg 8, Karlovac, Croatia
Zrinka Dragun orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-1289-0114 ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

Although Aspidogaster conchicola is a common and widespread parasite of freshwater molluscs, knowledge about its distribution and hosts in Croatia is still insufficient. The aim of our research was to investigate the presence of A. conchicola in the freshwater mussel Unio pictorum, which is widely distributed in the rivers of Europe. The study was conducted in the Mrežnica River, where U. pictorum is a common species. Five specimens of U. pictorum were collected by scuba diving in October 2021. The dissection of mussels was carried out in the laboratory, and all tissues were inspected under a stereo microscope. Determination of the parasite was performed based on the number and arrangement of alveoli. The results showed that the prevalence of infection was 40% (two out of five mussels were infected), and the intensity of infection was 2 to 3 specimens per mussel. All parasites were detected in the mussels’ pericardial cavity. In conclusion, this is the first record of A. conchicola in U. pictorum in Croatia.

Keywords

trematodes; prevalence and intensity of infection; Aspidogastrea; pericardial cavity; Unionidae

Hrčak ID:

319836

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/319836

Publication date:

31.7.2024.

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