PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF CERCARIAL INFECTION IN FRESHWATER SNAILS IN KANNUR DISTRICT (KERALA)

An attempt to survey trematode infection in snails was carried out during the period January - October 2008 in Kannur district. During the explorative study a total of 671 snails were collected which include4 three pulmonate snails - a Iymnaeid Lymnca luteola, two planorbids Gyraulus convexiusCUlUS and IndoplanorbiS exustus - and four prosobranch snail, Bellamya bengalensis, Thiara tuberculata, Paludomous transchauriCUS and Pila virens. The infection rate and the larval forms released were monitored. The cercariae released belonged to the groups the Amphistome, EchinostOme, Furcocercous and XiphidiocercoUs. Most of the cercana1 infections were recorded from Indoplanorbis exu’° ‘1 - .3%), which harboured all the four morphologicallY different cercariae. No infections were recovered from PaludomouS transchauriCUS and Pila virens

TWO NEW SPECIES OF CERCARIAE CERCARIA VII AND VIII N. SP. FROM FRESHWATER SNAILS IN MALABAR, KERALA

Two new species of cercariae, Cercaria sp. VII Malabarn. Sp. and Cercaria sp. VIII Malabarn.sp. infecting Thiara tuberculata and IndoplanOrbis exustus, respectively are described and their systematic position discusssed. The Snails were collected from irrigation canals at Kanhilleri in Malabar. Kerala

TWO NEW SPECIES OF FURCOCERCOUS CERCARIAE FROM FRESHWATER SNAILS IN MALABAR, KERALA

Two new species of furcocercous cercariae, Cercaria sp. I Malabar n.sp. found in the thiarid snails. Thiara tubercu'ta and Cercaria sp. II Malabar n.sp. in the lymnaeid snails. Lymnaea luteola, collected from difierer ( freshwater bodies of Malabar, Kerala are described