First record of planorbis [Linnaeus] naturally infected with xiphidiocercariae from Derna, Libya

ABSTRACT

A review of the literature shows that the fresh water snail Planorbis planorbis [Mollusca Gastropoda] infected with xiphidiocercariae has never been recorded in Derna, Libya. In the present paper the first record was made from Wadi Derna [= Darnah] East Coast of Libya. The snail harbor xiphidiocercariae, the percentage of infection during May 1989 was found to be 7.3%. Morphological description of the snail Planorbis planorbis, xiphidiocercariae is given in the present investigation. The snail possibly acts as an intermediate host of trematode species in Libya. Further studies are needed to investigate and to observe the exact type of trematode in which the fresh water snail P. planorbis acts as an intermediate host in the life-cycle and to determine the definitive host in Libya