''Centrocestus formosanus'' is a
trematode parasite of
Asian origin that has found its way into North American streams and rivers. It not only affects the
fountain darter but many species of commercially important fishes. It is also capable of infecting humans
The parasite is transmitted via a
freshwater snail
Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks which live in fresh water. There are many different families. They are found throughout the world in various habitats, ranging from ephemeral pools to the largest lakes, and from small seeps and springs ...
Red-rimmed melania
The red-rimmed melania (''Melanoides tuberculata''), also known as Malayan livebearing snails or Malayan/Malaysian trumpet snails (often abbreviated to MTS) by aquarists, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, a parthenogenetic, ...
''Melanoides tuberculata''
[ Vergara D. & Velásquez L. E. (2009). "LARVAS DE DIGENEA EN ''Melanoides tuberculata'' (GASTROPODA: THIARIDAE) EN MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA. Larval stages of digenea from ''Melanoides tuberculata'' (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) in Medellín, Colombia". '']Acta Biológica Colombiana
''Acta Biológica Colombiana'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed open access scientific journal covering all aspects of biology with special emphasis on the Neotropics. It is published by the Science Faculty of the National University of Colombia and w ...
'' 14(1): 135-142
abstract
PDF
. that was introduced in the
United States and
Mexico in the 1960s. The parasite is believed to have been introduced from shipments of
black carp to
fish farm
upright=1.3, Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye">mariculture.html" ;"title="Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture">Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Fish farming or ...
s in Mexico. The definitive hosts of ''Centrocestus formosanus'' appear to be piscivorous birds that migrate along the central flyway from South America to North America.
References
Heterophyidae
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