A checklist of British and Irish freshwater fish parasites with notes on their distribution

Abstract

One hundred and sixty eight species of parasite are listed from 36 species of freshwater fish from Britain and Ireland, and notes on their distribution are provided. A list of hosts together with the parasites recorded from them is also given. Although almost twice as many species are listed as in the most recent published reference list, the parasite fauna of Britain appears to be considerably poorer in number of species than that of mainland Europe, and that of Ireland poorer still. The distribution of most species, apart from two endemic species and a very few which have clearly been introduced into Britain in recent years from America or the mainland of Europe, appears to show no peculiarities and is probably contiguous with that of their hosts.

Larval gryporhynchid tapeworms (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) of British freshwater fish, with a description of the pathology caused byParadilepis scolecina

“…This is perhaps surprising in view of the wide fish-host ranges of these parasites, the role of common piscivorous birds as definitive hosts, the number and frequency of fish movements in England and Wales further facilitating spread, and the large numbers of parasitological examinations conducted annually on susceptible fish species from both wild and farmed fish populations (Jarecka, 1970a, b;Kennedy, 1974;Kirk, 2000;Scholz et al, 2004 (Fraser, 1960;Arme & Kennedy, 1968;Kennedy, 1974;Chubb et al, 1987;Hoole, 1994;Barber et al, 2000;Dezfuli et al, 2007). This interest has undoubtedly been stimulated by the pronounced clinical abnormalities caused by these large plerocercoid infections and the pathogenic importance of these parasites to fish populations.…”

“…This interest has undoubtedly been stimulated by the pronounced clinical abnormalities caused by these large plerocercoid infections and the pathogenic importance of these parasites to fish populations. In contrast, the small size and relatively benign appearance of gryporhynchid cestode infections, as well as the lack of comprehensive literature detailing their identification and impact, may have limited awareness, understanding and interest in these parasites in Britain (Kennedy, 1974). The detection of tapeworms in fish is generally a straightforward process (Chubb et al, 1987;Hoole et al, 2001).…”

Host specificity and geographical distribution of Eubothrium in European salmonid fish

“…The common occurrence of E. salvelini in rainbow trout in Scotland raises the question as to whether this species has been overlooked or misidentified during previous surveys of fish parasites in the UK (see Kennedy, 1974;Holland & Kennedy, 1997), or whether it has appeared only recently in British populations of rainbow trout. The latter have been stocked in Loch Earn and Loch Awe for the past 15 -20 years and it is possible that E. salvelini, previously occurring in resident populations of char, colonized rainbow trout for the first time.…”

Control of freshwater fish louse Argulus coregoni: a step towards an integrated management strategy

“…Several authors have demonstrated the importance physico-chemical properties of water such as oxygen content and pH for the success of Argulus populations (Pettersen et al 2006, Mikheev et al 2007. Habitat requirements of different fish louse species also differ from each other; A. coregoni occurs in large lakes and rivers, mainly on salmonids, whereas A. foliaceus is a common generalist in eutrophic, slow-flowing or still waters (Kennedy 1974, Shimura 1983, Taylor et al 2006.…”