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An Exotic Nematode Parasite of the American Eel
Author(s) -
Barse Ann M.,
Secor David H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(1999)024<0006:aenpot>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - nematode , parasite hosting , biology , zoology , ecology , geography , world wide web , computer science
We investigated reports from commercial fishers of parasitized American eels ( Anguilla rostrata ) in the Patuxent River (located in the mid‐Chesapeake Bay) and discovered that some eels were infected with an exotic swim bladder nematode, Anguillicola crassus . Here, we (1) describe the dispersal of this blood‐feeding nematode, endemic to the Japanese eel ( A. japonica ), in Europe and North America; (2) discuss what is known of the effects of this parasite on eels; (3) summarize current knowledge of the life cycle and identification of this parasite; and (4) present new data on the range of A. crassus in the eastern United States. We examined the swim bladders of 329 American eels from 4 sites in the mid‐ and upper Chesapeake Bay as well as 150 eels from 4 sites in the Hudson River in New York. Prevalence ranged from 10% to 29% in the Chesapeake Bay and from 0% to 12% in the Hudson River. Maximum intensity of infection was 24 for Chesapeake Bay eels and 3 for Hudson River eels. We urge our U.S and Canadian colleagues to examine American eels for A. crassus to assess the dispersal of this parasite in eastern North America.