Publication Date
12-18-2025
The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii is an exotic aquatic crustacean with global prevalence. Native to the Southeastern United States, this species has been introduced for aquaculture as it is a popular food fishery resource. A well-documented host for trematodes, P. clarkii is a known vector for parasitic, fungal, and viral infections. Procambarus clarkii has demonstrated the ability to consume exotic snails such as Melanoides tuberculata as a means of controlling snail-borne infections. In this study, an isolated exotic P. clarkii specimen was collected from an urban waterway in Los Angeles, California adjacent and draining into the largest remaining wetland ecosystem in the county. Molecular assays detected the presence of four trematode species: Haplorchis pumilio, a well-known human parasite, Steganoderma eamiqtrema, Echinostoma nasincovae, and Tanganyikatrema sp. ‘elongata’ as well as two partial sequences of unidentified trematodes. Previously considered a marine parasite, this study represents the first occurrence of Steganoderma eamiqtrema from a freshwater host. Arguably, this may represent the first occurrence of Echinostoma nasincovae, and Tanganyikatrema sp. ‘elongata’ in both North America and the waters of the United States. Further, this study identifies P. clarkii as a new host for the aforementioned trematodes. The detection of these trematodes continues to support a need for ongoing monitoring and surveillance of exotic trematodes introduced into the waters of the United States. As there are increasing populations of homeless residents with close contact to these local urban waterways, the public health implications of newly discovered trematodes need to be evaluated further. Findings, while modest, are of interest to public and environmental health practitioners in the region. These findings inform the need for future sampling of P. clarkii as potential hosts for exotic trematodes on Bluff Creek.
Recommended Citation
Post, Jason M.; Bailey, Emily S.; and Post, Rachael J.
(2025)
"Trematodes Detected in an Exotic Population of Red Swamp Crayfish from an Urban Storm Drain in Los Angeles,"
Cities and the Environment (CATE):
Vol. 18:
Iss.
3, Article 5.
DOI: 10.15365/1932-7048.1417
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol18/iss3/5
DOI
10.15365/1932-7048.1417
