REGIONAL INCIDENCE OF TREMATODES OF FROG

Abstract

Amphibians are a relatively small group .of animals, mainly comprising frogs and toads, which are commonly found in almost all the inhabited parts of world . They play an important ecological role in nature and constitute food for various reptiles, birds and mammals . In some parts of the world, frogs are also taken as human food. Frogs and toads transmit diseases to various animals and man . For example, it has been proved that in Russia at least 19 species of flukes are transferred to water fowls and other animals through frogs (Vogtkova ; 1974) . These are a source of human food and thus economically important. Rece ntly it has been reported that Mesocercaria of A£.aJL.i...a a.meJUc.a.na. s transmitted to man through infected frogs (Freeman, et al. , 1976). Such studies have not been carried out in Paksitan and the above noted instances indicate the necessity of the study of anural parasitic fauna so as to estimate the exact damage caused by the parasitic transmission to different animals of economic importance as well as man . On the other hand frogs are infected with a variety of helminthic parasites. A lot of work has been done on the morphology, anatomy, life cycle and toxonomy of these helminth parasites in other parts of the world (Klein , 1905; Skrjabin , 1961; Li , 1938) . In Pakistan two spec ies of frogs (Ran.a uglUn.a and RaM c.yan.oph1y~) 2 are commonly found . These are of par ticular inte r est to parasitologist, due to t heir easy availability and high rate of hJminthic infection. Bhutta and Khan (1975), Bilqees and Kaikobad (1976) have studied t he taxonomy and life cycle of helminth parasite of these frogs. In this region Chaudhry (1978) and Basit (198 2 ) have done some work on protozoon and helminth fauna of these amphibians. Both these researchers have confined their studies to limited areas of Rawalpindi and Lahore . Therefore , there is need to extend this survey to others areas of Pakistan , so as to have a clear picture of the parasitic fauna and more species if available.