Further studies on the role played by cat-fish in transmitting some trematodes to fish- eating mammals with special reference to the morphobiology of mesostephanus appendiculatus

The present study was carried out to investigate the role played by cat-fish (C1arias 1azera) in acting assecond intermediate host of some t remat ode s , Also, themorphobio1ogica1 status of Mesostephanus appendiculatus,the effect of some factors on its metacercariae and thechemotherapy of Mesostepanus infection in dogs were stu-died in details.72.85% of the examined Clarins 1azera, were infectedwith encysted metacercariae. The numbe r of encysted meta-cercariae per gram of Clarias 1azera meat was 40.56%, witha maximum of 330 per gram in the tail region of a cat-fish.39.03, 41.75 & 35.30 encysted metacercariae per gram of meatwere found in the head, trunk and tail regions respectively.Metacercarial maximum concentration occurred in the trunkregion.Four types of encysted metacercariae were detected inelarias la.zera, belonging to Mesostephanus sp., Ho1ostephanussp., Cynodiplostomum sp. and Heterophyidae encysted metacer-cariae.Experimental feeding of dogs and cats with C1aria.’lazera meat containing encysted metacercariae revealed thedetection of four trematodes. Their morphological features