Joint larval development of Cystocaulus ocreatus/Muellerius capillaris and C. ocreatus/Neostrongylus linearis (Nematoda) in six species of Helicidae (Mollusca) experimentally infected).

Abstract

This is the first study on the experimental susceptibility of the following species of molluscs: Cernuella (X.) cespitum arigonis, Helicella (H.) itala, Helicella ordunensis, Cochlicella barbara, Cepaea nemoralis and Helix (C.) aspersa, as intermediate hosts for the combination of both C. ocreatus and M. capillaris, pulmonary parasites in ruminants. Furthermore, the larval development of C. ocreatus and N. linearis, the two taken together, has been followed in Cernuella (X.) cespitum arigonis, H. ordunensis and C. nemoralis. Approximately 40 specimens of each of the above-mentioned species of molluscs were infected with the parasites listed. Bearing in mind the results obtained, we believe that while Cernuella (X.) cespitum arigonis, H. ordunensis, C. nemoralis, C. barbara and Helicella (H.) itala are suitable intermediate hosts for the larval combination of C. ocreatus and M. capillaris, the same cannot be said of Helix (C.) aspersa. Likewise, the first 3 species of molluscs quoted are ideal for the joint larval development of C. ocreatus and N. linearis. It seems that double infections favour larval development.