Biomphalaria havanensis is a Natural First Intermediate Host for the Trematode Bolbophorus damnificus in Commercial Catfish Production in Mississippi.

The digenetic trematodeBolbophorus damnificusis a significant hindrance to the production of farm-raised catfish in the southeastern USA. Severe infections withBolbophorus damnificuscan result in death, but the real damage lies in mild to moderate infections, which can go unnoticed by producers. Research has shown even mild infections can inhibit production to the point of operating at a net loss. The ramshorn snailPlanorbella trivolvisis the first intermediate host forBolbophorus damnificusand is prevalent in most commercial catfish ponds in the Southeast. Management practices aimed at controllingBolbophorus damnificusinfections primarily focus on reducing snail populations in ponds. Other aquatic snail species are also commonly associated with commercial catfish ponds, although little is known about their contributions to trematode infections in catfish. In the summer of 2014, 804 snailsBiomphalaria havanensis(synonym:Biomphalaria obstructa) were collected from a single commercial catfish pond and screened for trematode infections. Seven of these snails (0.81%) were actively releasing cercariae identified molecularly asBolbophorus damnificus. These cercariae were subsequently used in infectivity trials with Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatusfingerlings (5–8 cm). Seven days postchallenge, fish were examined histologically for the presence of metacercariae, which were present in 13 of 15 (86.67%) surviving fish. This is the first report of naturally occurring infections ofBolbophorus damnificusin another snail species. Received July 23, 2015; accepted January 30, 2016 Published online May 25, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]