Trematode Metacercariae in Freshwater Fish from Water Systems of Hantangang and Imjingang in Republic of Korea

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Digenetic trematodes (subclass Digenea) are a relatively large group comprising of more than 2,500 nominal genera, and generally has 3 hosts, 2 intermediate and 1 definitive, in the life cycle. A variety of vertebrates, i.e., fish, amphibian, reptilian, and arthropod, act as the second intermediate hosts containing the infective larvae, metacercariae. Most of digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) are detected in the fish hosts, and are morphologically distinguished because they retain unique morphologies species by species [1,2]. In the Republic of Korea (Korea), since Chun [3] reported various DTM in 16 fish species collected from streams and ponds in adjacent areas of Nakdonggang (“gang” means river), several workers investigated the infection status of fishes with DTM in various local areas, especially in southern Provinces, Gyeongsangdo and Jeolla-do [4-10].

Among the digenetic trematodes, fishborne zoonotic trematodes (FZT) provoke a public health problem in some Asian countries. FZT infections including clonorchiasis showed the higher endemicity, and they are important parasitic diseases in some riverside areas of Korea [11-13]. Seo et al. [11] reported high prevalences of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis among the peoples residing in the riverside areas of Korea. Cho et al. [12] reported the egg positive rates in residents living in 4 large river basins, Nakdonggang, Seomjingang, Yeongsangang, and Geumgang, located in southern parts of Korea. Recently, Kim et al. [13] surveyed the prevalence of clonorchiasis in riparian people along the 5 major rivers of Korea.

On the other hand, the infection status of FZT metacercariae in the second intermediate hosts is used as an important epidemiological index together with those of the infection status with adult worms in the definitive and/or reservoir hosts. Thus, many Korean workers have investigated the infection status of fish from various endemic areas with FZT metacercariae to estimate the endemicities of FZT infections [3-10,14-21]. Most of these studies were performed on specific trematode species, such as Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus spp. (including M. yokogawai), Centrocestus armatus, and Echinostoma hortense, and on the fish hosts from specific regions, such as the riverside areas of major rivers in Korea [14-21]. However, with regard to the infection status of DTM, most studies were performed before 2000, and have not been widely conducted in freshwater fish from the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang. Therefore, we performed the present study to investigate the infection status of freshwater fish with DTM in the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang in Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Freshwater fishes examined by collection sites

We collected a total of 594 freshwater fishes (in 24 species) in 5 local sites of Hantangang, i.e., Namdaecheon (“cheon” means stream) (latitude: 38.43268; longitude: 127.4375) in Cheorwon-gun, Hantangang (38.23047; 127.2179) in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, Hantangang (37.94375; 127.07142) in Yeoncheon-gun, Chatancheon (38.0855; 127.07264) in Yeoncheon-gun, and Yeongpyeongcheon (38.01408; 127.2088) in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, from August to October 2013 and in June and August, 2014 (in Namdaecheon and Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun). The numbers and species of fish examined are presented in Table 1. In addition, a total of 283 freshwater fishes (in 15 species) were collected in 3 sites of Imjingang, i.e., Imjingang (38.04905; 127.02154) in Yeoncheon-gun, Seokjangcheon (37.94185; 126.93864) in Yeoncheon-gun, and Munsancheon (37.80837; 126.85643) in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, from August to October, 2013. The numbers and species of fish examined are shown in Table 2.

Table 1.

Infection status of freshwater fish with trematode metacercariae by localities and fish species in Hantangang, Korea

Table 2.

Infection status of freshwater fish with trematode metacercariae by locality and fish species in Imjingang, Korea

RESULTS

Echinostoma spp. metacercariae

Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were detected in 50 (25.4%) out of 197 fishes (in 11 spp.) from the water systems of Hantangang, and their average number was 9.6 per fish infected. They were also found in 94 (64.8%) out of 145 fishes (in 9 spp.) from 3 surveyed sites of Imjingang, and their average density was 23.1 per fish infected. Especially in Munsancheon, 6 fish species were infected with the metacercariae, and their average number was 26.6 per fish infected. The infection status by fish species and surveyed areas are depicted in Tables 1 and 2. To obtain the adult fluke, the echinostome metacercariae collected in 3 fish species (Odontobutis platycephala, Pseudogobio esocinus, and Hemibarbus longirostris) from Munsancheon were orally infected to albino rats. Adult flukes of Echinostoma hortense were recovered only in the small intestines of rats infected with the metacercariae from O. platycephala. The echinostome metacercariae from P. esocinus and H. longirostris were morphologically identical with those of E. hortense from O. platycephala, but seemed less viable. The metacercariae of E. hortense were elliptical and 145-175 (156)×95-120 (108) μm in size, had 2 suckers, a head crown with 27 collar spines including 4 corner spines in each end, 2 rows of excretory granules (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

A metacercaria of Echinostoma hortense found in Odontobutis platycephala in Munsancheon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, which is elliptical and 156×108 μm in average size, has 2 suckers, a head crown with 27 collar spines including 4 corner ones (encircled) in each end, and 2 rows of excretory granules (EG).

Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae

The metacercariae of C. sinensis were detected in 7 (7.4%) out of 95 fishes in 3 species (Pungtungia herzi, Microphysogobio longidorsalis, and Hemibarbus mylodon), from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, and their average density was 1.9 per fish infected. They were also found in 40 (40.0%) fishes in 7 species from Munsancheon, and their average density was 35.6 per fish infected. The infection status by the fish species and the locality are designated in Table 3. The metacercariae of C. sinensis collected from Pseudorasbora parva in Munsancheon were elliptical and 143-170 (158)×123-155 (138) μm in size, had 2 nearly equal-sized suckers, brownish pigment granules, and an O-shaped excretory bladder (Fig. 2).

Table 3.

Infection status of Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae in fishes from Hantangang and Munsancheon in Korea

Fig. 2.

A metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis collected from Pseudorasbora parva in Munsancheon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, which is elliptical and 158×138 μm in average size, has nearly-equal sized 2 suckers (OS: oral & VS: ventral sucker), brownish pigment granules and an O-shaped excretory bladder (EB).

Stephanoprora spp. metacercariae

Stephanoprora spp. metacercariae were detected in 2 fish species, i.e., Z. platypus and Acheilognathus yamatsutae, from 3 surveyed areas. Their infection status by the fish species and surveyed areas are shown in Table 4. They were elliptical in shape, 123-138 (128)×90-110 (98) μm in size, had 22 color spines interrupted in dorsomedially, minute excretory granules, and yellowish pigment (Fig. 3).

Table 4.

Infection status of Stephanoprora spp. metacercariae in fishes from the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang in Korea

Fig. 3.

A metacercaria of Stephanoprora sp. detected in Z. platypus from Seokjangcheon in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, which is elliptical, 128×98 μm in average size, has 22 color spines interrupted in the dorso-median of oral sucker, minute excretory granules and yellowish pigment. Scale bar is 50 μm.

DISCUSSION

Kim et al. [14] reported that all fishes from upper regions of Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do were negative for C. sinensis metacercariae. However, Cho et al. [15] detected C. sinensis metacercariae in 2 fish species, Pungtungia herzi and Squalidus japonicus coreanus, only from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, among 9 localities surveyed in Gangwon-do. Cho et al. [22] also found them in 4 fish species, i.e., P. herzi, S. japonicus coreanus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, and Ladislabia taczanowskii, from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun. In the present study, we also detected C. sinensis metacercariae in 3 fish species, i.e., P. herzi, Microphysogobio longidorsalis, and Hemibarbus mylodon, from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, although their densities were very low. Therefore, it is confirmed again that the life cycle of C. sinensis is still maintained in some limited areas of Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do.

In addition, we also found C. sinensis metacercariae in 7 fish species from Munsancheon in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. This finding is the first on the presence of C. sinensis metacercariae in fish from the water systems of Imjingang. Therefore, it is interesting and important in epidemiological aspects of clonorchiasis. Further intensive studies on the snail and other fish intermediate hosts, humans, and reservoir definitive hosts should be investigated in the near future in the water systems of Imjingang.

A successful fish collection is a prerequisite in epidemiological surveys of FZT metacercarial infections like the present study. However, we failed to do it in some surveyed areas such as Hantangang in Yeoncheon-gun, Yeongpyeongcheon, and Seokjangcheon. In these 3 areas, the water current was so rapid and turbulent, the fish collection was possible only by the casting net at the daytime. Whereas in case of Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, and Munsancheon, 2 fish catching methods, i.e., netting and casting net, were used together to collect various species of fish. Especially, the netting was a recommendable method for the collection of nocturnal fish species.

In the Republic of Korea, Chun [3] described more than 11 species of DTM, i.e., C. sinensis, Metorchis orientalis, Exorchis oviformis, Pseudexorchis major, Echinochasmus japonicus, E. perfoliatus, Cyathocotyle orientalis, C. armatus, Metacercaria hasegawai, Rhypidocotyle lingualis, Diplostomum sp., and unidentified species, in 16 fish species from streams and ponds in adjacent areas of Nakdonggang. Lee [4] reported more than 10 species of DTM found in 12 fish species from Geumhogang, a branch of Nakdonggang, in Daegu Metropolitan City. Rhee et al. [6,7] detected more than 13 species of DTM, i.e., C. sinensis, M. orientalis, M. taiwanensis, Metagonimus spp., E. oviformis, P. major, E. japonicus, E. hortense, C. orientalis, Holostephanus nipponicus, C. armatus, Metacercaria hasegawai, and Diplostomum orientale, in 32 and 33 fish species from Mangyeonggang and Dongjingang in Jeollabuk-do. Besides, several studies were performed on the infection status of DTM in freshwater fishes along the riverside areas of Gyeongsang-do [5,8-10]. In the present study, we investigated the infection status of 9 DTM, i.e., C. sinensis, Metagonimus spp., C. armatus, Echinostoma spp., Diplostomum sp., Stephanoprora sp., M. orientalis, M. taiwanensis, and C. complanatum, and did not detect 5 species, i.e., Metacercaria hasegawai, E. oviformis, P. major, C. orientalis, and H. nipponicum, among the list of DTM described previously. The present study is meaningful as the first trial on the investigation of DTM infections in fishes from the northern regions of the Korean peninsula, although some studies on FZT metacercariae infections were conducted in fishes from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do [15,22].

Stephanoprora sp. is newly added among the list of DTM in Korea. This genus, Stephanoprora, is a group of the Family Echinostomatidae, and mainly found from birds and rarely from mammals. Chai et al. [23] already described Stephanoprora sp. adult recovered in the small intestine of a stray cat from a local market of Busan Metropolitan City. They tentatively called it Stephanoprora sp., but they mentioned that it should be considered identical with S. denticulata although there are minor differences in some morphological features. We were unable to obtain the adult worms from an experimental infection of animals with Stephanoprora sp. metacercariae. However, in faunistic points of view, we should continuously pay attention to this interesting 22-collar-spined echinostome in Korea.

Among 9 species of DTM subjected in this study, Metagonimus spp. were the most highly prevalent, detected in 425 (48.5%) out of 877 fishes examined, and their prevalence was 60.5% among the positive fish species group, total 702 fish. However, their metacercarial burdens were relatively low. The burden of Metagonimus spp. was the highest in fishes from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun, more than 80 (average), and it was less than 20 in fishes from remaining 7 localities. Unlike Cho et al. [22], the susceptible fish species, i.e., Plecoglossus altivelis and Tribolodon hakonensis, were not examined in this study. On the other hand, at least 64 fish species (in 42 genera) were reported as the second intermediate host of Metagonimus spp. in Korea [1,22]. In the present study, Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 21 fish species from the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang. All fish species except for Acheilognathus koreensis were already listed among the fish intermediate hosts of Metagonimus spp. previously in Korea [1,22].

A total of 24 fish species in 20 genera were previously listed as the second intermediate hosts of C. armatus in Korea [1,21,22]. In this study, the metacercariae of C. armatus were detected in 5 fish species, Z. platypus, Z. temminckii, A. rhombeus, A. yamatsutae, and A. macropterus from the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang. Especially, 2 species of chubs, Z. platypus and Z. temminckii from Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun were highly and heavily infected. These findings agreed well with Cho et al. [22]. The high prevalence and heavy metacercarial burden in 2 species of chubs were found in almost all regions of Ganwon-do surveyed. In addition, 2 species of bitterlings, i.e., A. yamatsutae and A. macropterus, were first confirmed as the fish hosts of C. armatus in this study. Accordingly, total 26 fish species in 21 genera are included among the second intermediate hosts of C. armatus in Korea.

In the present study, Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were detected in 15 fish species, but their species names could not be determined. Although 3 species, i.e., Echinostoma cinetorchis, E. hortense, and Echinostoma revolutum, have been known to exist in Korea, there are possibilities for distribution of other Echinostoma spp. infecting birds and mammals via fish intermediate hosts. Among the 3 echinostome species, E. hortense is the dominant zoonotic species, and 8 fish species, i.e., Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Misgurnus mizolepis, R. oxycephalus, Odontobutis interrupta, S. japonicus coreanus, Rhinogobius brunneus, A. macropterus, and Acanthogobius flavimanus, have been reported as the second intermediate hosts in Korea [1,19,22]. On the other hand, some fish species, i.e., O. platycephala, P. esocinus, and H. longirostris, from Munsancheon were highly infected with Echinostoma spp. metacercariae. In the adult worm recovery experiment, E. hortense adult flukes were harvested in the small intestines of experimentally infected rats.

Diplostomula are the metacercariae (mesocercariae) of Diplostoma spp. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) and lodge in fish and amphibians. Adult worms infect mainly birds and rarely in mammals. In the present study, diplostomula were detected in fishes from all surveyed areas. Total 13 fish species, i.e., A. rivulairs, A. koreensis, C. capio, H. longirostris, H. labeo, H. mylodon, M. longidorsalis, P. esocinus, P. parva, P. herzi, R. ocellatus, Z. platypus, and Z. temminckii, are listed among the second intermediate hosts of unknown Diplostoma spp. in Korea. Among these fish hosts, P. esocinus from Namdaecheon and Munsancheon were most highly and heavily infected. Rhee et al. [7] detected diplostomula in a loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, from Dongjingang in Jeollabuk-do, and named them as Diplostoma orientale. However, they did not try to recover the adult flukes, and identified them with mesocercariae only. If it is so, what species of Diplostoma are distributed in Korea? The species determination of Diplostoma mesocercariae infected in fish hosts is one of the taxonomic problems to be solved with recovery of the adult flukes in Korea.

Conclusively, it is confirmed for the first time in Korea that a variety of trematode species are inhabited in fishes from the water systems of Hantangang and Imjingang, in northern parts of South Korea. In epidemiological aspects of FZT infections, these 2 regions are endemic areas of intestinal flukes, i.e., Metagonimus spp., C. armatus, and Echinostoma spp., rather than C. sinensis.

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