Challenges Involve in Metacercariae Extraction, Isolation and Preservation for Experimental Research

1,3*Iliyasu, D., 2Rwuaan, J. S., 3Chiezey. N. P., 2Ate, I. U.,4Okubanjo, O. O 5Ahmed, I. M., and 2Ajani, J. A.

1Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Development, Damaturu, Yobe State. Nigeria. 2Departmentof Veterinary Theriogenology and Production, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 3National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 4Departmentof Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 5Departmentof Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Corresponding author: - emailaddressdisambo@yahoo.com +2348063294756

Abstract :

The study was designed to evaluate the challenges involve in extraction, isolation and preservation of metacercariae for research purposes. Cercariae is one of the active larval stage in the life cycle of Fasciola. Metacercariae is the encysted cercariae which served as intermediate host, commonly found in snails Lymneanatalensis andLymneaauricularia in the tropics. One hundred (100) naturally infested snails of Lymneanatalensis andLymneaauricularia was collected from river barks andstreams for extraction of metacercariae. The snails were crushed in a petridish using forceps and a dissection pin. The shells were removed while the tissues were washed with water and sieved. The filtrate was left uncovered in a Petridish for 72hours, and the supernatant discarded. The petri dishes were emptied of water and kept at 4 0C in a refrigerator. The attached metacercariae on the petri dish were sprinkle with water every 48 hours to sustain their viability.The attached metacercariae on the petri dish were scraped into 40 ml of distilled water in a cylinder and mixed, 0.1 ml of the mixture at 3 slide reading revealed the percentage of viable and dead metacercariae 33.33 % 38.14% and 28. 52%and 35.59%, 25.42% and 38.98 % respectively.It was concluded that moisture and refrigerator temperature 4 0C are key for isolation and preservation of viable metacercariae. Keys words: - Lymneanatalensis, Lymneaauricularia, Cercariae, Extraction of metacercariae, Isolation, Preservation andviability