Season, size, and sex: factors influencing monogenean prevalence and intensity on Gambusia affinis in New Zealand

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted on monogenean seasonality, though primarily in continental regions with wide annual temperatures ranges. We investigated seasonal changes in the prevalence and intensity of Salsuginus seculus infesting sexually dimorphic western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in New Zealand. This represents the first examination of seasonality for this species globally, and the first seasonal assessment of any monogenean population in New Zealand, a temperate country with a mild oceanic climate. Prevalence and intensity of S. seculus with respect to fish size and sex was also examined. Prevalence of S. seculus changed temporally, peaking in summer, and was strongly positively correlated with algal concentrations. This relationship may be associated with increasing food levels, leading to an increase in fish courting and mating, resulting in high numbers and close physical associations of G. affinis individuals, facilitating transmission of the monogeneans. Thus, biotic factors may be important in determining temporal changes in S. seculus prevalence in New Zealand. Female G. affinis had a significantly higher prevalence and mean intensity of S. seculus than males. Longer fish had a higher mean intensity and prevalence of S. seculus. Female G. affinis likely host disproportionately more monogeneans as they are larger than males. Alternatively, females may have a compromised immune response during reproductive periods. Overall, seasonal change was observed in S. seculus prevalence and intensity under New Zealand’s mild climatic conditions, and the larger female G. affinis in this dimorphic species supported a greater prevalence and intensity of infestation than males.