The route of infection of Paragonimus westermani (diploid type) cercariae in the freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe different routes of infection of Paragonimus westermani (diploid type) in the freshwater crab, Geothelphusa dehaani, were experimentally confirmed by various methods. In all the experiments, P. westermani metacercariae were recovered from the muscles, gills and liver of the infected crabs with the cercariae, although they were smaller than those of naturally infected ones. This is the first experimental evidence that G. dehaani is infected by both oral feeding and percutaneous contact with P. westermani (diploid type) cercariae.