Diptera infestation of the carcasses of Arion rufus (Gastropoda) and its possible hygienic significance
Kuhlhorn, F.
Angewandte Parasitologie 27(2): 123-130
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-3162 PMID: 3740533 Document Number: 270784
Salmonellas of different serotypes and eggs of the helminths Ascaris lumbricoides L. and Trichuris trichiura L. were discovered in excrements, on the body surface and also on dead bodies on the gastropod Arion rufus L., which is partly coprophagous. Dipterans visiting such substrate may become--probably at most indirectly--vectors of these parasites and may be injurious to the health of men and domestic animals. By traps with carcasses of Arion as baits 178 species of Dipterans of 29 families were caught, among them species known as vectors and nearly all families in which species of vector function are stated. Investigation of foodstuffs and fodder revealed the occurrence of 144 of the 178 species of Dipterans stated on carcasses of Arion, mostly visitors on foodstuffs. Many of them may have vector function due to their chains of infestation. Informations are given on the spectrum of infection with salmonellae-serotypes and species of helminths stated on Arion and on the importance of Dipterans in the destruction of small carcasses. The results suggest the necessity of complementary investigations on the occurrence of further parasites on carcasses of gastropods.