The species of Paragonimus in Latin America

Six species of Paragonimus are presently known in Latin America. They include the following : P. mexicanus, P. peruvianus, P. amazonicus, P. inca, P. ecuadoriensis, and P. caliensis. Among them, P. peruvianus has been recognized as a synonym of P. mexicanus by Miyazaki himself, the discoverer of P. peruvianus. Furthermore, P. ecuadoriensis is suggestive of a synonym of P. mexicanus by Miyazaki. I also regard P. amazonicus, P. inca and P. caliensis as dependent species. I entertain a strong suspicion that these are synonymous with P. mexicanus. Therefore, P. mexicanus is the only species that distinctly inhabits Latin America. In the classification, in particular Paragonimus, we have to recognize the variations in the same species.

現在までにラテンアメリカの肺吸虫はP. mexicanus, P. peruvianus, P. amazonicus, P. inca, P. ecuadoriensis, P. caliensisの6種が報告されてきたが,そのうちP. peruvianusは命名者である宮崎自身によってP. mexicanusのシノニムと訂正された｡さらにP. ecuadoriensisもP. mexicanusのシノニムであると示唆されている｡P. amazonicus, P. inca, P. caliensisもその分類には些細を形態上の違いを取り上げており,著者はP. mexicanusのシノニムの可能性が強いと考えている｡したがって､現在のラテンアメリカに明確に分布している肺吸虫種はP. mexicanus1種のみである｡肺吸虫の分類においては特に種内の変異を認めるべきである｡