History of echinostomes (Trematoda).

Echinostomatidae (Trematoda) is the largest family within the class Trematoda. Members of this family have been studied for many years in relation to their utility as basic research models in biodiversity and systematics and also as experimental models in parasitology since they offer many advantages. Echinostomes have contributed significantly to numerous developments in many areas studied by parasitologists and experimental biologists.

[Reexamination of the life cycle of Isthmiophora melis (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) on material from southeast Europe].

The life cycle of Isthmiophora melis (Schrank, 1788) on material from Southeast Europe was experimentally reexamined. Thirteen names or combinations can be accepted as true synonyms of I. melis: Distoma melis (Schrank, 1788) Zeder, 1800; Echinocirrus melis (Schrank, 1788) Mendhaim, 1943; Isthmiophora spiculator (Dujardin, 1845); Echinostoma trigonocephalum (Rud.

Collar spine models in the genus Echinostoma (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae).

This paper discusses collar spine arrangements in the genus Echinostoma. All arrangements are of uneven numbers of collar spines on the oral collar. The total number of collar spines in these arrangements ranges from a low 31 to a high 51.

Identification problems with species in the Echinoparyphium recurvatum complex from physid snails in the USA.

This study was done to help us answer numerous requests that we get about the identity of 45-collar-spined echinostomes in the genus Echinoparyphium. We examined 45-collar-spined cercariae from physid snails collected in Europe and the USA. Morphological observations of these cercariae showed considerable similarities in most of the characteristics we examined in these cercariae.

Argentophilic structures of the miracidia and cercariae of Philophthalmus distomatosa n. comb. from Israel.

The morphology and patterns of distribution of the argentophilic structures of miracidia and cercariae of Philophthalmus distomatosa n. comb. are described.