The Larval Stages of spp. in Freshwater Snails as the First and Second Intermediate Hosts in Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces, Northern Iran.

BACKGROUND

Identification of the larval stages of spp. in freshwater snails is an essential guide to continue monitoring the possibility of their transmission and the potential of echinostomiasis in areas where trematodes are the primary agent of parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was investigate using morphological and molecular techniques.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran, from April 2019 to October 2021. Overall, 5300 freshwater snails were randomly collected and were identified using external shell morphology. Meanwhile, snails infected with trematodes were studied via shedding and dissecting methods. Larvae stages of were identified and the genomic DNA of the samples was extracted. The PCR amplification of the ITSI gene was carried out for 17 isolates and products were sequenced. Seven sequences were deposited in GenBank.

RESULTS

Totally, 3.5% of snails containing three species ( sp., sp. and sp.) were infected with two types of cercaria with 37 and sp. with 45 spines in the collar. Moreover, 35% of the snails were infected with spp. metacercaria. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that isolates were included in two ITSI haplogroups.

CONCLUSION

Results showed the potential hazard of a zoonotic parasite as in northern Iran. The potential of disease environmental relationship investigation and resource control optimization is necessary for effective disease prevention and health management.