THE LIFE CYCLE OF DOLLFUSTREMA VANEYI

The life cycle of Dollfustrema vaneyi (Tseng, 1930) Eckmann 1934 was determined for the first time. This species employs Limnoperna lacustris as its first intermediate host, small carps and catfishs as the second intermediate host and mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi.) as the final host. Just the same as other bucephalids, there are five developing stages in the life cycle of the present species, i.e. miracidium, sporocyst, cercaria, metacercaria and adult. Observations were made on the morphological features of the worms in different stages, the behaviour of the cercariae and the mechanism of the release from the first intermediate host. The metacercariae in different developing stages was experimentally obtained and observed by using Oryzias latipes (Schlegel) as the second intermediate host.