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The occurrence of metacercariae of Bucephaloides gracilescens (Digenea: Gasterostomata) in an intermediate host, the four‐bearded rockling, Enchelyopus cimbrius (Gadidae)
Author(s) -
Karlsbakk E.
Publication year - 1995
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.1095-8649.1995.tb05944.x
Subject(s) - biology , digenea , intermediate host , parasite hosting , host (biology) , zoology , infestation , trematoda , helminths , ecology , anatomy , botany , world wide web , computer science
Infections with metacercariae of Bucephaloides gracilescens in the four‐bearded rockling Enchelyopus cimbrius were studied for a year in a Norwegian fjord. The prevalence was at all times high, but abundance showed a marked decline in spring to a low level during summer. A rise in abundance, variance‐to‐mean ratio and frequency of smaller metacercariae in early autumn (August‐September) shows infection to have occurred mainly in autumn. There were no differences in level of infection between host sexes, but a highly significant positive correlation of parasite burden with host length. No influence on the condition factor of the host was revealed, the parasite cysts in the central nervous system are believed to have low pathogenicity. A detailed account of the distribution of metacercarial cysts is given. No support for infection being via the lateral line canals is revealed, cercarial penetration is believed to be through the general surface of the head and through the unpaired fins of the trunk and tail.