The Life History of the Salmon-Poisoning Fluke, Nanophyetus salmincola (Chapin)

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Abstract
The microcercous xiphidiocercariae of Nanophyetus (= Troglotrema) salmincola are the only trematode larvae of western Oregon which penetrate fish. Larvae develop slowly in the stream snail Oxytrema silicula (Gould). Metacercariae were associated with severe erosion of fins and tails of wild fish but not with exophthalmus. Metacercariae develop after 6 to 7 days in the mammalian gut to mature flukes which fit the description of Nanophyetus salmincola (Chapin). The internal anatomy is described in detail; a simple U-shaped uterus, a cirrus sac but no cirrus and no seminal receptacle are cited as of taxonomic significance. N. salmincola is not identical with N. schikhobalowi and is not a parasite of man.