NOTES ON CERCARIAL DERMATITIS WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CAUSATIVE ORGANISMS, CERCARIA WARDLEI N.SP., CERCARIA BAJKOVI N.SP., AND THE PARTHENOGENIC STAGE OF CERCARIA ELVAE MILLER

Abstract

This paper records an investigation of cercarial dermatitis, commonly known as swimmer's itch or slough itch, observed on bathers in Clear Lake, Manitoba. The infestation is manifest by the presence of erythematous papules and causes severe itching.As a result of a survey for animal parasites in the lake, and experimental infestations with all forms it has been found that the disease may be caused by Cercaria elvae Miller, a brevifurcate distome cercaria, or by either of two pharyngeal longifurcate distome cercariae, Cercaria wardlei n. sp. and Cercaria bajkovi n. sp. Clinical and pathological notes on the disease are given.