Abstract
A survey of parasitic helminths in loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) imported from China to Japan was done in March 2000 and October 2001. The survey resulted in the detection of three species of nematode larvae (Spiroxys japonica, Gnathostoma hispidum, Contracaecum sp.), one species of adult nematode (Pseudocapiliaria tomentosa), six species of trematode metacercariae (Massaliatrema misgurni, Metorchis orientalis, Exorchis oviformis, Encyclometra japonica, Metacercaria hasegawai a, Echinostomatidae gen, sp.), one species of adult trematode (Allocreadium gotoi), one species of adult cestode (Paracaryophyllaeus gotoi) and one species of adult acanthocephala (Pallisentis sp.). These parasitic helminths need an intermediate host to complete each life cycle. The loaches play the part of the second, paratenic and final host. We are concerned about invasions of M, misgurni as an alien species into Japan.
