SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION OF GIGANTO BILH ARŽLA" IN CHICKENS BY INFECTING THEM WITH A SCHISTOSOMATID CERCARIA RECOVERED FROM MELANIA TUBERCULATA IN ASSIUT GOVERNORATE* (EGYPT)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut

Abstract

SUMMARY Gigant obilharzia has for the first time been reported in Egypt. The adult worms could be experimentally produced in chickens, after they were exposed to an apharyngeal bre vifurcate ocellate cercaria recovered from Melania tuberculata. It is found that the pre patent period ranged from 7-8 weeks. The ova were oval or subglobular in shape and they were provided with a minute termi nąl spine. The morphology of the adult worms, the cercaria and sporocyst were described. A simple perfusion apparatus has been designed to collect the trematode from the veins of the chicken. It is suggested that the present trematode is a new species of Gigan tobilharzia.