Parasitic castration in Concholepas concholepas (Gastropoda:Muricidae) due to a larval digenean in northern Chile

Abstract

Specimens of the edtble mollusk Concholepas concholepas from Tocopllla northern Chile, were found to b e Infected with larval forms of a fellodislom~d d ~g e n e a n Plevalence of infection did not signlflcantly differ between male and female mollusks A close ielat~onshlp between first maturlty and parasitic infection is suggested Flukes invade gonadal and hepatopancreat~c tlssue and adversely affect structure and functlon of these organs In heavy infections the penls was absent and destruction of the hepatopancreas was accompanied by dlsorganizatlon of germinal tissue