On a trematode of the genusEchinochasmusDietz, 1909, with remarks on the species occurring in Indian carnivores

Abstract

In a survey on the worm parasites of cats in Calcutta, Chandler (1925) mentioned the common occurrence in dogs also ofEchinochasmus perfoliatus(Ratz, 1908) which has also been listed by Bhalerao (1935) in cat, dog and man. According to Verma (1935), the dogs at Calcutta harboured three distinct flukes—a species ofEchinochasmus, a heterophyid and a third species described by him under a new genus,Episthochasmus, asE. caninum. In a survey of the helminth parasites of pariah dogs examined at Calcutta, Mapleston & Bhaduri (1940) includedEchinochasmussp. amongst the six new records from India. Chatterji (1954) regardedEpisthochasmusas a synonym ofEpisthmiumLühe, 1909 andStephanoproraOdhner, 1911,EchinochasmusandEpisthmiumLühe, 1909 as subgenera ofEchinochasmus. A new species, based on two specimens collected from the intestine of pariah dog at Allahabad, was described asE. (Echinochasmus) canai. Relying on the character of the forward extension of vitelline follicles,Stephanoprorawas to include forms with vitellaria extending to the posterior margins of anterior testis,Echinochasmusforms with vitelline follicles extending beyond the anterior testis but not anterior to the anterior margin of ventral sucker andEpisthmiumforms with follicles extending beyond the anterior margin of this sucker. Thus, Verma's species was named asE. (Episthmium) caninum.