Morphological Characteristics and Fish Hosts of Isoparorchis sp. (Digenea: Isoparorchiidae) in Korea

We described here the morphological characteristics for the species identification and fish hosts of Isoparorchis sp. (Digenea: Isoparorchiidae) in the Republic of Korea (Korea). Total 1,371 freshwater fishes collected in Yangcheon (Stream) in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do were examined by the artificial digestion methods to survey the infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae for 4 years (2013-2016). Adult and larval worms of Isoparorchis sp. were detected in 38 (8.4%) out of 451 fish in 4 species, i.e., Pungtungia herzi, Acheilognathus koreensis, Squalidus japonicus coreanus and Odontobutis platycephala, examined. The infection density was 1.1 worm per fish infected. They were mainly found in the subcutaneous tissues and abdominal cavities. Nodules with worms in the subcutaneous tissues were revealed as the blue ink-colored bulges. Adults leaf-like, 21.6×9.84 mm in average size. The ratio of body length to body width was 2.20: 1. Oral sucker subterminal, 1.03×1.22 mm. Pharynx muscular, 0.55×0.54 mm. Esophagus very short. Ceca convoluted, terminated near the posterior end. Ventral sucker anterior 1/3.75, 1.99×2.10 mm. The ratio of ventral sucker to oral sucker was 1.74: 1. Testes round to elliptical, both sides of ventral sucker, 1.43×1.33 mm. Vitellaria highly dendritic, posterior 1/3 level. Eggs operculated, embryonated, 52×32 μm in size. By the present study, 4 fish species aforementioned are to be listed as the fish hosts of Isoparorchis sp. in Korea and additionally the morphological characteristics are to be described for the species identification.