Diplostomum pseudospathaceum
Diplostomum pseudospathaceum is a species of trematode in the family Diplostomidae.
Life cycle
It is a type of fluke infecting the eyes of some species of fish, altering their movement patterns to suit its needs at different stages of development. The parasite infects snails and birds, sexually reproducing in the latter and asexually in the former, as well as many species of fish. When infecting a fish, it quickly moves into the fish's eye lenses, as they lack blood circulation, so the parasite is protected there from the host's immune system. This latter trait is probably responsible for the parasite's broad range of fish host species. Having infected the fish, the course of infection can be modulated by co-infection with Flavobacterium columnare.Hosts
Intermediate hosts of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum include:Lymnaea stagnalis Oncorhynchus mykiss Oreoleuciscus potaniniRadix labiataIt is known to infect Larus ridibundus, the black-headed gull, as a definitive host.