The helminth parasites of the bullhead Cottus gobio (L.) and the stone loach Noemacheilus barbatulus (L.) from the River Avon, Hampshire

Abstract

Specimens of Cottus gobio and Noeriiarheilus barbatulus from the River Avon, Hampshire, were examined between July 1970 and July 1971. Both fish were found to act as hosts for Nicolla gallica (adult), Poinphorhynchus laevis (adult) and Triuenophorus nodulosus (plerocercoid). The incidence and intensity of infection were lower in M. barbatulus than in C. gobio, and this was related to differences in host diet. A small number of N. bavbatulus were also found to harbour Proteocephahs toridosus. Seasonal cycles of incidence and intensity were evident in N. gallica, with a peak occurring in the winter. P. laevis and T. nodulosus showed no such cycles. Increasing host size was associated with a higher infection of both N. gallira and P. laevis, but not T. nodulosus. The diet of the host was considered to be important in influencing this increase. Differences in host reproductive condition affected the population levels of N . gallica only, where an increased parasite burden was evident in gravid female fish. This was considered to influence the observed increase in incidence and intensity of this parasite during the winter. None of the parasites showed any seasonal maturation cycles. There was no evidence of any interactions between the parasite populations. Host diet and the availability of infective larvae were considered to be the most important features influencing the number of parasites which became established, and the rate at which this occurred. Temperature probably acted indirectly on the establishment of N . gallica, by controlling the availability of the larval stages, and also, by influencing the host reproductive condition, on the length of time for which the parasite was retained by the host.

Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of freshwater fishes of Kerala

“…As noted by Bibby (1972), Rampus (1975), Evans (1977), Lian and Leong (1979), Moravec (1985), Zaman and Leong (1987a, b) and Wierzbicka (1991), carnivorous/omnivorous species of fishes are more prone to parasitic infections as they stand higher chances of acquiring parasites, particularly heteroxenous forms than the herbivorous forms, which because of the restriction in food, do not have the chances of acquiring more infections nor more varied fauna of parasites.…”

Differential influence of two acanthocephalan parasites on the antipredator behaviour of their common intermediate host

“…Each parasite is known to induce specific behavioural modifications in their intermediate host, with P. laevis affecting mainly phototactism, whereas P. minutus reverses geotactism (Ce ´zilly et al 2000). Pomphorhynchus laevis is known to establish in several fish species, including the bullhead (Rumpus 1975;Kennedy 1999). By contrast, being predated by a bullhead represents a dead-end for P. minutus.…”

Observations on the occurrence of Allocreadium fasciatusi in Aplocheilus melastigma

“…The seasonal cycles of Allocreadium isoporum and Azygia lucii have also been shown to be temperature dependent (Malakova, 1963;Dogiel, 1964;Halvorsen, 1972). Conversely Bibby (1972) in the case of Macrolecithus papilliger and Rumpus (1975) in the case of Nicolla gallica showed that the seasonal cycles and population intensity of these flukes are related to the availability of infective larvae and changes in the feeding habits and general physiological condition of the host. Recently Evans (1977) observed seasonal cycles of Sphaerostoma bramae and Asymphylodora kubanicum in the roach in Worcester-Birmingham canal and stated that they may be explained in terms of the feeding habits of the host and seasonal fluctuations in environmental temperature as well as the reproductive state of the host.…”