Premium
The occurrence of metacercariae of the trematode, Cyathocotyle opaca (Wisniewski), in three species of lake‐dwelling leeches
Author(s) -
SPELLING S. M.,
YOUNG J. O.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1986.tb01003.x
Subject(s) - biology , trematoda , ecology , parasite hosting , zoology , helminths , world wide web , computer science
SUMMARY. 1. The leeches, Erpobdella octoculata, Glossiphonia complanata and Helobdella stagnalis , were collected at monthly intervals over a 2‐year period from a eutrophic English lake, and examined for the presence of metacercariae of the trematode. Cyathocotyle opaca. 2. Only one specimen of each of H. stagnalis and G. complanata was recorded with the parasite. Seasonal changes in prevalence levels in E. octoculata were similar for each of the three cohorts identified during the study period. Values, low in young leeches recruited in the autumn, rose slowly until the following spring, and then increased more rapidly till the autumn, when the cohort died out. Mean intensity and relative density showed similar patterns of seasonal change to that of prevalence. There was no evidence of parasite induced mortality in E. octoculata. Attainment of sexual maturity did not differ between infected and uninfected leeches.