The Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres interpres, a New Definitive Host for Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae)

• Published in: The Korean Journal of Parasitology
• Main Authors: Seo, Min, Guk, Sang-Mee, Chai, Jong-Yil
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society for Parasitology 2008
• Subjects: Brief Communication; Arenaria interpres; Ruddy Turnstone
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2526297; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18344677; https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2008.46.1.41

The ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres interpres, a migratory Korean bird, was proved to be a natural definitive host for Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae). The ruddy turnstone was found dead at the seashore of Okgu-eup, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do. The intestinal tract was examined, and 98 unknown flukes were recovered. The worms were 600 × 284 µm in size, and had 2 ventral suckers. The seminal vesicle was large, the genital atrium was prominent, and the average egg size was 20 × 12.5 µm. Based on these results, the worms were identified as G. squatarolae. This is the first report on the ruddy turnstone as a natural definitive host of G. squatarolae in the Republic of Korea.