, MASTERARBEIT / MASTER’S THESIS Titel der Masterarbeit / Title of the Master‘s Thesis Digenean trematodes in freshwater snails in the surroundings of Vienna with a focus on species involved in human infections verfasst von / submitted by Nadine Hohensee BSc angestrebter akademischer Grad / in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (MSc) Wien, 2016 / Vienna 2016 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt / A 066 834 degree programme code as it appears on the student record sheet: Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt / Masterstudium Molekulare Biologie degree programme as it appears on the student record sheet: Betreut von / Supervisor: Assoz. Prof. Univ.-Doz. Mag. Julia Walochnik, PhD Statutory Declaration I declare that I have authored this thesis independently, that I have not used other than the declared sources / resources and that I have explicitly marked all mate- rial which has been quoted either literally or by content from the used sources. …………………………… ……………………………………………….. Date Signature Index Index 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Digenean Trematodes ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Classification ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2. Geographical Distribution .......................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3. General Life Cycle ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.4. Form and Function ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.4.1. Egg ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.4.2. Miracidium .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.4.3. Sporocyst ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.4.4. Redia .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.4.5. Cercaria ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.4.6. Metacercaria ....................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.4.7. Adult .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1.5. Medical Importance ................................................................................................................. 10 1.2. Intermediate Hosts .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. Radix spp. MONTFORT, 1810 ....................................................................................................... 12 1.2.1.1. Radix auricularia (LINNAEUS, 1758) ..................................................................................... 13 1.2.1.2. Radix lagotis (SCHRANK, 1803) ............................................................................................ 13 1.2.1.3. Radix labiata (ROSSMÄSSLER, 1835) ..................................................................................... 13 1.2.1.4. Radix balthica (LINNAEUS, 1758) ......................................................................................... 14 1.2.2. Lymnaea stagnalis (LINNAEUS, 1758) ......................................................................................... 14 1.3. Trichobilharzia Species .................................................................................................................... 15 1.3.1. Geographical Distribution ........................................................................................................ 15 1.3.2. Life Cycle .................................................................................................................................. 15 1.3.3. Morphology .............................................................................................................................. 17 1.3.3.1. Cercaria ............................................................................................................................. 17 1.3.3.2. Adult .................................................................................................................................. 17 1.3.4. Swimmer’s Itch ......................................................................................................................... 18 1.3.4.1. Epidemiology ..................................................................................................................... 18 1.3.4.2. Causative Agents ............................................................................................................... 19 1.3.4.3. Clinical Appearance ........................................................................................................... 19 1.3.4.4. Diagnosis ........................................................................................................................... 20 1.3.4.5. Therapy.............................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.4.6. Prevention and Control ..................................................................................................... 21 1.4. Echinostomatidae ............................................................................................................................ 21 1.4.1. Geographical Distribution ........................................................................................................ 21 1.4.2. Life Cycle .................................................................................................................................. 22 1.4.3. Morphology .............................................................................................................................. 23 1.4.3.1. Cercaria ............................................................................................................................. 23 1.4.3.2. Metacercaria ..................................................................................................................... 23 1.4.3.3. Adult .................................................................................................................................. 24 1.4.4. Echinostomosis ......................................................................................................................... 24 1.4.4.1. Epidemiology ..................................................................................................................... 24 1.4.4.2. Causative Agents ............................................................................................................... 25 1.4.4.3. Clinical Appearance ........................................................................................................... 26 1.4.4.4. Diagnosis ........................................................................................................................... 27 1.4.4.5. Therapy.............................................................................................................................. 27 1.4.4.6. Prevention and Control ..................................................................................................... 28 1.5. Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 28 I Index 2. Material and Methods ..................................................................................................................... 30 2.1. Collection of Snail Intermediate Hosts .............................................................................................30 2.1.1. Morava Floodplains ..................................................................................................................32 2.1.2. Danube Floodplains ..................................................................................................................32 2.1.3. Leitha Floodplains .....................................................................................................................33 2.1.4. Leitha Mountains ......................................................................................................................34 2.1.5. Wulka River ...............................................................................................................................35 2.1.6. Artificial Waterbodies ...............................................................................................................35 2.2. Macro- and Microscopic Analyses ...................................................................................................37 2.2.1. Measurement of Shell Size .......................................................................................................37 2.2.2. Dissection ..................................................................................................................................37