First record of a trematode parasite aspidogaster baerae n.sp. (trematoda: aspidogastridae) in the gut of f.bengalensis (mollusca: gastropoda) from south 24 parganas, West Bengal

A trematode parasite belonging to the Genus Aspidogaster was isolated from the gill of a freshwater gastropod snail, Filopiludina bengalensis and identified based on its morphological characters and morphometry. The parasite was found to infect gill of the mollusc. The body of the parasite in an extended form is about 3mm long and is cylindrical shaped from the dorsal side with protrusions of the sucker visible on both sides in the posterior region of the body. From the ventral side, the parasite appears to have and elongated cylindrical trunk with mouth aperture on one end connected to the sucker on the other end. The sucker bears rows of alveoli. The present trematode was compared with other species of the same genus with the help of available literatures. It was found morphologically different from the previously reported species on the basis of several features. The host, Filopiludina bengalensis was collected from Bishnupur II block of South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal. This is the first record of Aspidogaster from F. bengalensis suggesting its record in a new freshwater gastropod mollusc and a new geographical location.