The First Record of Philophthalmus Lucipetus (Trematoda: Philophthalmidae) in the Great Egret (Ardea Alba) from Turkey

Abstract

The genus Philophthalmus, Looss 1899 (Echinostoma: Philophthalmidae) is a cosmopolitan group of parasites that infects the eyes of birds and mammals, including humans. A great egret (Ardea alba) was found dead in Kizilirmak Delta, Samsun, Turkey. The bird was transported to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun Turkey, for a necropsy. In the parasitological examination, a trematode was detected in the eye, and then it was identified as Philophthalmus lucipetus. This is the first report of the zoonotic parasite P. lucipetus in Turkey.