The susceptibility of different gastropod species to the infection with Varestrongylus sagittatus (Mueller, 1890) Dougherty, 1945.

The susceptibility of 11 species of terrestrial gastropods to the infection with Varestrongylus sagittatus has been studied under laboratory conditions. The gastropods Zenobiella umbrosa, Monachoides incarnata. Deroceras reticulatum, Cepaea nemoralis, Cepaea hortensis, Arion rufus, and Trichia hispida are new potential intermediate hosts of V. sagittatus. The highest susceptibility and the shortest period of development of the V. sagittatus larvae occurred in Succinea putris. The development of V. sagittatus larvae inside S. putris did not proceed at the temperature of 5 degrees C, but at 10 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 20 degrees C, and 25 degrees C, the period of development became shorter with increasing temperature of environment. The length of V. sagittatus larvae reached the following values: 0.302-0.327 mm in first-stage larvae, 0.385-0.550 mm in second-stage larvae, and 0.484-0.590 mm in third-stage larvae. At the temperature of 25 degrees C, the larvae of V. sagittatus did not reach the third stage if the course of the experiment only in Helicigona arbustorum.