First Report of Spirometra Procercoid Parasitism in Cyclops from Tanzania

Abstract

A survey was carried out on natural infection of Spirometra procercoids in Cyclops from water ponds in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Cyclops collected from ponds in Tarangire National Park were examined for the presence of procercoids in their body cavities. The Cyclops were anaesthetized with carbonated water and examined under compound microscope. Spirometra procercoids were found in the body cavity of naturally infected Cyclops. The procercoids was elongate, had calcareous corpuscles and mean measurements were 101.7µm in length and 71.7 µm in width. The procercoids seems to concur with S. erinacei procercoid. This is a first record of Spirometra procercoid in Cyclops from Tanzania.