Preliminary Screening of Fish-Borne Zoonotic Trematode (Fzt) Metacercarial Infection in Wild-Captured and Farmed Freshwater Fishes in New Corella, Davao Del Norte

Date of Award

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

First Advisor

Janice A. Ragaza, PhD

Abstract

Heterophyidiasis is a fish-borne zoonotic trematode (FZT) infection that is an important zoonosis with a great variety of manifestations in humans through the consumption of raw, partially, or poorly cooked fish infected with encysted heterophyid metacercariae. According to recent reports, it is considered to be an emerging public health threat in the Southern part of the Philippines, which is an identified endemic area of infection. The present study aimed to assess the status of heterophyids among the freshwater fishes in New Corella, Davao del Norte, and to analyze the effect of parasitism on fish length, which can be used as an indicator of potential risk for heterophyidiasis. A total of 300 wild-captured and farmed fish were collected by convenient sampling in November 2019 and February 2020. None of the 164 out of 300 fish sampled showed heterophyid encysted metacercariae in tail muscle and visceral organs, thus the prevalence of infection is still questionable. The negative result can be attributable to the seasonal variation, timing of the collection, and storage. The study recommends an extensive collection and dissection of freshwater fishes in areas with high reports of heterophyidiasis to isolate the heterophyid metacercariae for molecular confirmation. A further histopathological examination should be considered to assess the effects of parasitism in fishes.

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