[Trematode infections in the small intestine of Egretta alba modesta in Kangwon-do]

We surveyed 12 migrating large egrets, Egretta alba modesta, for their infection status with intestinal trematodes, from June to September, 1990. All of them were infected with one or more flukes. Total 5 species were identified. Their infection rates and total numbers of worms were Metagonimus sp. 67% and 1,412, Centrocestus armatus 67% and 2,306, Echinochasmus japonicus 50% and 99, Strigea falconis 83% and 635, and a diplostomid fluke 33% and 36. The number of worms in a bird was in the range from 6 to 896. This is the first record that the egret is a reservoir host of Metagonimus sp., C. armatus, E. japonicus, and S. falconis. S. falconis is a new parasite fauna in Korea. Migrating birds must play an important role in the transmission and spreading of these intestinal trematodes in Korea.