Galactosomum

Galactosomum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Trematoda
Order: Opisthorchiida
Family: Heterophyidae
Genus: Galactosomum
Looss, 1899
Species
  • Galactosomum anguillarum (Tubangui, 1933)
  • Galactosomum baylisi (Gohar, 1930)
  • Galactosomum bearupi Pearson, 1973
  • Galactosomum cochlear (Diesing, 1850)
  • Galactosomum cochleariforme (Rudolphi, 1819)
  • Galactosomum dollfusi Pearson, 1973
  • Galactosomum echinatum (Timon-David, 1955)
  • Galactosomum erinaceum (Poirier, 1886)
  • Galactosomum fregatae (Prudhoe, 1949)
  • Galactosomum humbargari Park, 1936
  • Galactosomum johnsoni (Price, 1934)
  • Galactosomum lacteum (Jägerskiöld, 1896)
  • Galactosomum linguiforme Anantaraman, 1974
  • Galactosomum nicolai (Isaichikov, 1927)
  • Galactosomum palawanense Fischthal & Kuntz, 1972
  • Galactosomum phalacrocoracis Yamaguti, 1939
  • Galactosomum puffini Yamaguti, 1941
  • Galactosomum renincola Pearson, 1973
  • Galactosomum sanaense Kobayasi, 1941
  • Galactosomum semifuscum (Olsson, 1876)
  • Galactosomum sinuilactis Pearson, 1973
  • Galactosomum spinetus (Braun, 1901)
  • Galactosomum stelleri Dailey, Demaree & Critchfield, 2002
  • Galactosomum timondavidi Pearson & Prévot, 1971
  • Galactosomum tuvense Sergeeva & Krasnolobova, 1963
  • Galactosomum ussuriense Oshmarin, 1963
  • Galactosomum witenbergi Anantaraman, 1974

Galactosomum is a genus of flukes within the family Heterophyidae, which is part of the order Opisthorchiida. There are currently twenty-one recognised species within the genus. They mainly infect aquatic birds, but often infest fish as larvae.[1] Three species are known to use marine mammals as hosts.

Description

The excised spherical metacercaria is 2.7–4.9 mm long.[2] Generally, only one is found per fish.[3]

Life cycle

The genus is inaccurately known as a species in popular culture, due to its mention by Luis Sera in Resident Evil 4 via a note in the Castle sewers as an example of a parasite which controls, or alters, the behavior of the host. This is based on some species of Galactosomum that cause infected fish to swim closer to the surface and colorfully flash their underbellies.[4] Gastropods hosting select species suffer from sensory impairment due to infestation. This makes these prey animals more likely to be consumed by aquatic birds, providing a host for the parasite to reach the mature stage of its life cycle. Galactosomum cannot survive in human hosts.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Hoffman, Glenn L. (1999). "Some North American Fish Parasites Listed by Location in the Fish". Parasites of North American Freshwater Fishes. 512 East State St., Ithaca, NY 14850: Cornell University Press. p. 11. ISBN 0-8014-3409-2.
  2. ↑ Kamegai, S.; N. Yasunaga; S. Ogawa; S. Yasumoto (1982). "Galactosomum sp. from intestine of Larus carassirostris from Nagasaki, Japan". Jpn. J. Parasit. (in Japanese): 31.
  3. ↑ Kimura, M.; Endo, M. (1979). "Whirling disease caused by metacercaria of a fluke". Fish Pathol. (in Japanese) 13 (4): 211–213. doi:10.3147/jsfp.13.211.
  4. 1 2 "Database of Parasites in Fish and Shellfish". Retrieved 2008-07-03.

External links

WoRMS. "Galactosomum". World Register of Marine Species. 


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, May 19, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.