DIGENEAN LARVAE PARASITIZING CERASTODERMA EDULE (BIVALVIA) AND NASSARIUS RETICULATUS (GASTROPODA) FROM RIA DE AVEIRO, PORTUGAL

This work reviews the significant community of digenean trematodes observed infecting the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule, and the snail Nassarius reticulatus in the channel of S. Jacinto, Ria de Aveiro Estuary, Portugal. The Digenea observed comprise 15 species, belonging to the families Bucephallidae (1), Echinostomatidae (4), Gymnophallidae (3), Lepocreadiidae (1), Microphallidae (1), Monorchiidae (1), Renicolidae (1), Strigeidae, (1), and Zoogonidae (2). The species were studied by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Information is included for hosts, sites of infection, prevalence, and a brief description of parasite surface morphology. The significance of these observations is compared with the presence of these digeneans from other regions, mainly the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The Ria de Aveiro is a geographical location conducive to extensive species co-occurrence resulting from the overlap between southern (Mediterranean) and northern definitive hosts of the parasites. Differences in life cycle strategies were observed and discussed.