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Hosts, distribution and pathology of infections with larvae of Eustrongylides (Dioctophymidae, Nematoda) in fishes from East African lakes†
Author(s) -
Paperna I.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1974.tb04523.x
Subject(s) - biology , mesenteries , paratenic , larva , zoology , clarias , anatomy , parasite hosting , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , catfish , world wide web , computer science
Eustrongylides sp. larvae were found to be numerous in Bagrus docmac, Clarias mossambicus and Haplochromis spp. from Lake Victoria, rare in Haplochromis spp. and absent from B. docmac and C. lazera from Lake George, East Africa. Larvae encyst in the mesenteries, spleen and in Haplochromis spp. also in the gonads. Unencysted larvae were observed in muscles. Cyst walls consisted of fibroblasts, collagen strands, and were often infiltrated with fat cells. Fatty changes were observed in infected spleens; the muscle tissue, around the unencysted worms, was digested and infiltrated with fibroblasts. Infected gonads, particularly ovaries were deformed and in heavy infections degenerated completely. The biological implication of this infection with larval Eustrongylides sp. on the host populations in Lake Victoria is discussed.