Community structure of larval trematode fauna of the snail Thiara tuberculata from a freshwater stream at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Monthly samples of the snail Thiara tuberculata, collected from a freshwater stream at Visakhapatnam, were examined for larval trematode infections. Cercarial infections occurred in 38.2% of the snails. Nineteen species of cercariae belonging to 10 families were found, with xiphidiocercariae as dominant members. Fifteen species of cercariae belonged to allogenic category and four species were autogenic. Four species are identified as having zoonotic potential with fish serving as second intermediate hosts. No seasonal pattern is exhibited in the overall prevalence of infection and the community diversity.