EXPERIMENTAL LIFE CYCLE OF CONTRACAECUM QUADRIPAPILLATUM N. SP. IN WHITE PELICAN (PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS) AT LAKE NASSER, EGYPT: MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC EVIDENCES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, 81528 Aswan, Egypt.

2 Fishery Management Center, High Dam Lake Development Authority, Aswan, Egypt.

Abstract

During November 2013 to October 2015, one hundred and nine fish specimens of Clarias lazera were captured from different areas of Lake Nasser, South Egypt. They were found infected with 3rd stage larvae of Contracaecum with 100% prevalence. 4th stage larvae and adults were experimentally obtained from the lower part of esophagus of white Pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchus previously administered 3rd stage larvae. Detailed morphological description of both larvae (L3) and adults, by light and scanning electron microscopes as well as molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS-1 & ITS-2) indicated the presence of a new Contracaecum sp. here named C. quadripapillatum n. sp.

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