The Ecology of Endohelminth Parasites of Fish in the Driffield Trout Stream, Yorkshire, England

Abstract

The prevalence of helminth parasites infection in six fish species (Salmo gairdneri, Salmo trutta, Thymallus thymallus, Anguila anguila, Gasterosteus aculeatus, and Cottus gobio) showed a maximum 100% infection rate in the salmon fishes and a minimum 25% infection rate in Gasterosteus aculeatus. The intestinal parasites recorded were Cyathocephalus truncatus (tapeworm), Echinorhynchus truttae (Acanthocephalan), Crepidostomum metoecus (trematode) and Cucullanus truttae (nematode). Another nematode, Cystidicola farionis was also recorded in the swim bladder. The amphipod, Gammarus pulex was found to habour the development stages of all the helminth parasites.

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 15, April 2000, pp. 41-46



KEY WORDS:

Helminth parasite fauna, Freshwater fish, amphipod, Gammarus pulex.