The dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge and Sachs, 1989, from Liberia - A new second intermediate host of Paragonimus uterobilateralis

Large populations of the dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge and Sachs, 1989, collected from the St. Paul river at the Haindi/Mauwa focus of paragonimiasis in Liberia were examined for parasitization by the human lung fluke, Paragonimus uterobilateralis. Four specimens out of 763 L. l. nanoides proved to be positive for P. uterobilateralis (0.52%), and each of these specimens contained only 1 metacercaria. The dwarf river crab forms the basis of a seasonal commercial fishery in Liberia, and it is sold for human consumption in rural markets. However, the low level of parasitization of L. l. nanoides, together with its limited seasonal availability make it doubtful that L. l. nanoides constitutes a public health risk to the rural population of Liberia.