Experimental infection of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca:Bivalvia) by metacercariae of Echinoparyphium sp. (Platyhelminthes:Trematoda).

The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha a species recently introduced to North America from Europe, was studied to determine whether it could potentially serve as host for echinostomatid metacercariae. Forty adult mussels were collected from the St. Lawrence River and exposed to cercariae of Echinoparyphium sp. that was emerging from naturally infected Physa sp. collected from a native population in northern New York state. When necropsied 24-30 hr postexposure, 2 (5%) of the 40 harbored a metacercaria of Echinoparyphium sp. in the gonad. None of 200 control mussels collected from the same site was infected. This is the first report of any species or stage of echinostomatid from this host species worldwide. This is also the first report of an echinostomatid metacercaria from the gonad of any host species.