[Life cycle of Paramphistomum togolense n. sp. (Trematoda, Paramphistomidae)]

Abstract

Mature worms were obtained from a sheep experimentally infested with metacercariae issued from cercariae emitted by naturally infested snails: Bulinus (Bulinus) forskalli collected near Lomé (Togo). Miracidia were used for infection of these laboratory-reared snails which gave numerous cercariae. Larval stages are studied. Morphological and histological characters of the adult and the very peculiar shape of the sporocyst distinguish this trematode from the other known species of the genus. The superficial argentophilic structures of the miracidium and cercaria are described in detail because, to our point, they constitute the best criteria for the taxonomy of this group.