The ecology of Echinorhynchus truttae Schrank, 1788 (Acanthocephala) in a trout stream in North Wales

The distribution, specificity and pathogenicity of the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis (Muller) were studiedin the River Avon, Hampshire. The parasite occurredin every fish species, but three categories of hosts could be distinguished. Using growth and maturation as criteria of specificity, only chub Leuciscus cephalus (L.) and barbel Eurbus barbus (L.) were recognized as its preferred hosts. Parasites occasionally matured in trout Sulmo truttu (L.) and dace Leuciscus Ceuciscus (L.), but none grew or matured in other host species.Changes in the abundance of P. laevis along the river were related to changes in the abundance of both the intermediate host, Gammarus pulex, and the preferred hosts, and its occurrence in fish to the importance of G. pulex in their diet. In the upper reaches of the River Avon and in other localities populations could be maintained at a low level by parasites maturing in trout, and presence and abundance at any site depended upon the presence and abundance of both intermediate and definitive hosts especially and upon the dietary preferences of the latter. The absence of P. laevis from many parts of Britain is nevertheless still inexplicable. The parasite caused local damage to the intestinal wall of fish, the extent of which varied from species to species, but did not affect host growth rate or cause direct mortality and P. Iuevis cannot be regarded as an important pathogen in the River Avon or any other British River.

Section: A Distktbution and Specificity Of P Laevzs (A) Distributiomentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: (B) Effects On Growth Rate Offishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on the distribution, specificity and pathogenicity of the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller)

Hine

Kennedy

1974

“…Several publications on the population biology of the helminths of British freshwater fishes have appeared. Recent workers include Awachie (1965Awachie ( , 1966; Arme & Owen, (1967; Chubb (1963Chubb ( , 1964Chubb ( , 1967 and Kennedy (1968Kennedy ( , 1969a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population biology of the helminth parasites of Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), the minnow, in a Cardiganshire lake

Bibby

1972

Specimens of Phoxinusphoxinus (L.) were collected over a period of a year from September 1967 to September 1968 from Frongoch Lake, Cardiganshire, Wales. Of a total of 650 fBh examined for helminth parasites, 32 % were definitive hosts for Mucrolecithus papilliger, and 16.5 % for Neoechinorhynchus vutili (Muller), both parasites of the alimentary canal.All the fish examined were second intermediate host for Diplostomurn phoxini (Faust) in the brain and 1.67 for Ligula intestinalis (L.) in the coelom. An increase in incidence of infestation with M. papilliger in spring and autumn and with AT. rirtili in summer were evident. The sex of the fish had no apparent effect on worm burden whereas size was more significant. There was a decrease in incidence of infestation with M . papilliger and an increase with N . rutili together with an increase in intensity of infestation with D.phoxini as the fish became larger. The latter species accumulated in the brain as the host increased in age.

“…Recorded most frequently from brown trout, but also from rainbow trout, salmon, grayling, eel, pike, dace, roach, bullhead- (Aderounmu, 1966;Awachie, 1963Awachie, , 1965Baylis, , 1939aChubb, 1965a;Campbell, 1974 and P.c. ;Hine, 1970;Kane, 1966;Lal, 1947;Markowski, 1966;Rawson, 1952;Robertson, 1953;; Bristol Avon R.A., px.…”

Section: Spinitectus Inermis (Zeder 1800)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Kennedy

1974

141

130

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.