STUDIES ON PARASITIC HELMINTHS OF AMPHIBIANS IN ASWAN GOVERN ORATE

Abstract

A total of 850 amphibian hosts (Bufo regularisi were collected from Aswan Governorate. No other amphibian hosts were found in the collecting locations. They were dissected and examined for helminth parasites. Wonns collected from di:fferent organs were sorted out into trematodes, cestodes and nematodes. They were examined while still living. The worms were then washed, fixed and prepared for permanent mounts. They were microscopically examined. Small worms and internal organs of big worms were measured by the aid of eye piece micrometer. Long cestodes and nematodes were measured by a thread, the ends of which tied around a pin, then the thread was measured by a ruler. Whenever possible, eggs were measured from fresh specimens collected from faeces, otherwise, eggs were measured inside the uterus of gravid females. All drawings were made by the use of camera lucida. Whenever needed microphotographs were taken to indicate more evidence for certain morphological features or anomalies.

Only -one trematode parasite was detected during the present study; Mesocoelium monos (Roudolphi 1819) Freitas, 1958. Worms were manly found in the small intestine but rarely from the rectum. They were found in 710 toads (incidence 83.5%). _ Hence, the parasite was described from abundant material. This was a good chance to examine and redescribe many worms. Therefore, the parasite was redescribed in details. Few worms were found deviating from the original description. These deviations were particularly seen in relation to size of suckers, position of the genital atrium, size, shape and position of testes and ovary, size and extension of vitelline follicles. • These variabalities were described, drawn and microphoto-