Swimmers' itch in New Brunswick: distribution and description of the causative agent, Cercaria catascopii n.sp.

Abstract

Distribution of swimmers' itch (schistosome dermatitis) was determined during the summers of 1974, 1975, and 1976 through examination of over 2000 snails collected from sites on 18 recreationally important lakes in New Brunswick. The causative agent is identified as Cercaria catascopii n.sp. (Digenea: Schistosomatidae). Infected snails of two species, Lymnaea catascopium catascopium Say and Physa gyrina Say, were found in three lakes: Magaguadavic, Utopia, and Chamcook. P. gyrina is recorded here from New Brunswick for the first time.