Seasonal occurrence of Dollfustrema vaneyi (Digenea: Bucephalidae) metacercariae in the bullhead catfish Pseudobagrus fulvidraco in a reservoir in China

The seasonal population dynamics of metacercariae of the bucephalid Dollfustrema vaneyi (Tseng, 1930) Echmann, 1934 in the bullhead catfish Pseudobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson) were investigated in Jiangkou reservoir, Jiangxi Province, east China, during the period from April 1990 to August 1991. In total, 523 fish were obtained, and the overall prevalence of the metacercariae was 89.87% and mean abundance 136.25 +/- 308.09 (mean +/- SD). A pattern of seasonal changes in prevalence and mean abundance was observed, with higher levels of metacercariae infection in late spring and summer. An analysis of the distribution of D. vaneyi in different organs of P. fulvidraco suggested that the eyes might be a suitable location for the parasite. Furthermore, the possible role of metacercariae in bullhead catfish was discussed in relation to the life cycle of this parasite.     

Seasonal and yearly population dynamics of two exotic helminths, Camallanus coti (Nematoda) and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda), parasitizing exotic fishes in Waianu Stream, O'ahu, Hawaii

Exotic poeciliid fishes introduced into Hawaiian freshwaters are responsible for the introduction of several exotic parasites, of which the most important are Camallanus cotti and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in terms of potential disease threat to native stream fishes. This roundworm and tapeworm are the most prevalent and abundant freshwater fish helminths in Hawaiian streams. This study examined the seasonal and yearly population structure of C. cotti and B. acheilognathi to determine if the tropical Hawaiian environment characterized by low climatic variability permits continuous opportunities for parasite transmission regardless of time of year. Camallanus cotti displayed seasonal differences in prevalence and mean abundance, whereas B. acheilognathi did not. Camallanus cotti prevalence and mean abundance were higher in the Hawaiian summer (47.7%, 0.79) than in winter (25.8%, 0.36). A seasonal relationship of C. cotti levels is likely explained by extensive rains associated with the Hawaiian winter season, which may act to decrease parasite transmission by flushing infected poeciliid hosts, intermediate copepod hosts, and possibly free-living infective worm stages downstream. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi displayed low prevalence and mean abundance in both summer (4.0%, 0.06) and winter (6.5%, 0.07), and it may be difficult to detect seasonal changes due to these low levels. Camallanus cotti prevalence and mean abundance remained relatively constant from the summer of 1995 to the summer of 1999, indicating that levels of this roundworm are stable in Waianu Stream. Whereas B. acheilognathi prevalence and mean abundance were low during the summer of 1995 and the summer of 1997, a dramatic peak in prevalence and mean abundance was observed in the summer of 1998 (41.2%, 1.06), with levels decreasing sharply in the summer of 1999 (4.4%, 0.07). It appears that B. acheilognathi also is present in stable populations at low levels, even though levels rose sharply during a single year.     

Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of pink cusk-eel,Genypterus brasiliensis (Osteichthyes: Ophidiidae), from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Fifty-five specimens of pink cusk-eel, Genypterus brasiliensis Regan, 1903 (Osteichthyes: Ophidiidae) collected from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (approx. 21-23 degrees S, 41-45 degrees W), from September 2000 to January 2001, were necropsied to study their parasites. All fish were parasitized by one or more metazoan. Fourteen species of parasites were collected. G. brasiliensis is a new host record for nine parasite species. The larval stages of cestodes and the nematodes were the majority of the parasite specimens collected, with 38.4% and 36.5%, respectively. Cucullanus genypteri was the dominant species with highest prevalence and/or abundance. The parasites of G. brasiliensis showed the typical overdispersed pattern of distribution. Six parasite species showed correlation between the host's total body length and prevalence and abundance. Host sex did not influence prevalence and parasite abundance of any parasite species. The mean diversity in the infracommunities of G. brasiliensis was H= 0.364 +/- 0.103, with correlation with the host's total length and without differences in relation to sex of the host. One pair of adult endoparasites (C. genypteri and A. brasiliensis) showed positive covariations between their abundances. Negative association or covariation was not found. Differences between the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the parasite community of G. brasiliensis from Rio de Janeiro and Argentina suggest the existence of two population stocks of pink cusk-eel in the South America Atlantic Ocean.     

小鞘指环虫种群的季节动态

作者在１９９２－１９９４年期间对鲢指环虫病原小鞘指环虫种群的季节动态进行了研究。小鞘指环虫种群从每年的冬季开始出现,到次年春末（４月）,其染率与丰度均匀发展至高峰。此 度随着水温的上升而迅速下降,到６月上旬,种群消失,在感染强度低于２００虫／鱼的情况下,小鞘指环虫对宿主肥满度没有显著影响。     

Population dynamics of the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus brentnickoli (Neoechinorhynchidae) in Pacific fat sleeper,Dormitator latifrons,from Tres Palos Lagoon,Guerrero, Mexico

Population dynamics is a branch of ecology that studies temporal changes in the abundance of a population of organisms over time. This paper presents a study of the factors influencing population abundance of the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus brentnickoli in Dormitator latifrons, the Pacific fat sleeper, from Tres Palos Lagoon. Fish were sampled from February 2012 to February 2013. A total of 688 adult fish were examined. The mean total length of fish varied significantly from 16.10 ± 1.93 cm (September 2012) to 20.78 ± 3.82 cm (August 2012). ‘Prevalence of acanthocephalans exceeded 90% in all months, and mature individuals were present year round, indicating that recruitment of helminths occurred throughout the year. Mean abundance ranged from 32.3 (July 2012) to 89.3 helminths per fish (March 2012) and was significantly lower in the rainy season. The body size of fish was the best predictor of acanthocephalan abundance in every month; larger fish harbored more acanthocephalans than smaller ones. Although parasite loads were high in some months (up to 500 acanthocephalans in one fish), obvious damage to the health of fish was not evident.     

Threatened fishes of the world: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silurus mento</Emphasis> Regon, 1904 (Siluriformes: Siluridae)

Conservation status, identification, distribution, abundance, habitat and ecology, threats, conservation actions and recommendations of an endemic catfish, King’s bullhead, Silurus mento were introduced.     

Distribution of the cestode Caryophyllaeides fennica (Cestoda: Lytocestidae) in the population of cyprinid fish in the Rybinsk water reservoir

The distribution of the cestode Caryophyllaeides fennica in populations of the ide, roach, white bream and bream from the Rybinsk reservoir has been analyzed in regard to fish age. The relative abundance of C. fennica in populations of each host species was calculated as product of the helminthes abundance by the fish number in age groups. The highest prevalence and abundance of cestodes was found in the ide. All age classes of this species were infected, with the maximum in fishes of the age 3+ ... 5+. The roach is infected with C. fennica till only 10-year age; brean is infected till the age 4+. In the white bream C. fennica is an occasional parasite. The cestode number among hosts was as follows: bream--68%; roach--26%, ide--5%, white bream--1%. Different approaches to the estimation of the parasite abundance distribution among several host species (in terms of mean prevalence and intensity of the relative abundance of parasites) are discussed.     

色林错裸鲤感染匙形双穴吸虫的种群动态和寄生偏好

文章通过种群动态研究匙形双穴吸虫感染在时空上的变化,并研究该虫感染是否存在对宿主性别、左右眼及眼球不同部位的寄生偏好性,摸清匙形双穴吸虫在色林错裸鲤中的感染情况,分析种群消长原因,探究其生活史策略。跨年按不同季节采捕色林错裸鲤,记录全长、体重和性别,采集并统计匙形双穴吸虫囊蚴数量,计算不同时空下的感染率和平均丰度,通过独立样本非参数检验,判断不同性别宿主、左右眼及眼球不同部位的感染数量是否存在显著差异性,以检验匙形双穴吸虫是否存在寄生偏好。共剖检色林错裸鲤165尾[全长28.7—49.5 cm,平均全长(37.9±4.0) cm,体重196.9—827.2 g,平均体重(473.3±127.9) g,包括雌性82尾,雄性83尾],共检出匙形双穴吸虫515只,最大寄生量为32只/尾。在时间上,匙形双穴吸虫感染率和平均丰度在2020年夏季最高,秋季和春季呈下降趋势, 2021年夏季感染率下降,平均丰度却呈上升趋势, 2021年秋季与2020年秋季感染率与平均丰度较为接近。在空间上,根据色林错裸鲤全长范围,以5 cm为分组间隔,将其分为5个全长组,感染率和平均丰度在25 cm≤TL<3...     

Searching for generality in the patterns of parasite abundance and distribution: Ectoparasites of a South African rodent, Rhabdomys pumilio

We studied abundance and distribution of seven ectoparasite species (fleas Chiastopsylla rossi and Dynopsyllus ellobius, a louse Polyplax arvicanthis, mites Androlaelaps fahrenholzi and Laelaps giganteus and two ticks Haemaphysalis elliptica and Hyalomma truncatum) exploiting the same populations of the rodent host Rhabdomys pumilio in South Africa. We considered three general patterns of abundance and distribution, namely (i) aggregated distribution of parasites amongst individual hosts; (ii) positive relationships between mean parasite abundance and their prevalence; and (iii) applicability of a simple epidemiological model based on mean parasite abundance and its variance to predict the observed patterns of prevalence. Our aims were to evaluate the relative role of host- versus parasite-associated factors by looking at similarity amongst different parasites in these patterns. In general, all parasites demonstrated strong similarity in each of the three patterns of abundance and distribution. However, the strength of these patterns differed amongst parasite species. We conclude that these patterns are driven mainly by hosts, but differences are caused by differences between various life-history traits of parasite species. Our results support the idea that general laws apply to parasite population ecology.     

Effects of water quality and trophic status on helminth infections in the cyprinid fish, Schizothorax niger Heckel, 1838 from three lakes in the Kashmir Himalayas

Water quality greatly influences the population density of aquatic biota, including parasites. In order to evaluate the relationship between fish parasites and water quality in Kashmir Himalayas, we assessed helminth parasite densities in Schizothorax niger Heckel, 1838 (an endemic cyprinid fish of Kashmir) from three lakes, namely Anchar, Manasbal and Dal, which reflected the varied stages of eutrophication. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was higher in the hypertrophic Anchar Lake (prevalence = 18.6%) compared to Manasbal Lake, which was the least eutrophied (prevalence = 6.4%). Furthermore, mean prevalence of monoxenous and heteroxenous parasites was higher in lakes containing higher levels of water degradation (Anchar and Dal). The mean number of helminth species per fish host was the highest in the hypertrophic lake (1.3 ± 0.3) in comparison to the least eutrophic lake (0.2 ± 1.5). Variability of calculated infection indices (prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance) revealed that helminth parasite composition in the fish was affected by the lakes' environmental stress (degraded water quality). Therefore, data on the density of helminth parasites in fish can provide supplementary information on the pollution status of a water body.     

Spatial variation in population density across the geographical range in helminth parasites of yellow perch Perca flavescens

The abundance of a species is not constant across its geographical range; it has often been assumed to decrease from the centre of a species’ range toward its margins. The central assumption of this “favourable centre” model is tested for the first time with parasites, using different species of helminth parasites exploiting fish as definitive hosts. Data on prevalence (percentage of hosts that are infected) and abundance (mean no. parasites per host) were compiled for 8 helminth species occurring in 23 populations of yellow perch Perca flavescens, from continental North America. For each parasite species, correlations were computed between latitude and both local prevalence and abundance values. In addition, the relationships between the relative prevalence or abundance in one locality and the distance between that locality and the one where the maximum value was reported, were assessed separately for each species to determine whether abundance tends to decrease away from the presumed centre of the range, where it peaks. For both the cestode Proteocephalus pearsei and the acanthocephalan Leptorhynchoides thecatus, there was a positive relationship between prevalence or abundance and the latitude of the sampled population. There was also a significant negative relationship between relative prevalence and the distance from the locality showing the maximum value in P. pearsei, but no such pattern was observed for the other 7 parasite species. Since this single significant decrease in prevalence with increasing distance from the peak value may be confounded by a latitudinal gradient, it appears that the distribution of abundance in parasites of perch does not follow the favourable centre model. This means that the environmental variables affecting the density of parasites (host availability, abiotic conditions) do not show pronounced spatial autocorrelation, with nearby sites not necessarily providing more similar conditions for the growth of parasite populations than distant sites.     

First record of the black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Teleostei: Ictaluridae) in Poland

The North American catfish, the black bullhead Ameiurus melas, is recorded for the first time in Poland. The origin of these fish is not clear, but their presence may be associated with unregulated introductions by anglers.     

Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of white sea catfish, Netuma barba (Osteichthyes: Ariidae), from the coastal zone of the state of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Between March 2000 and April 2001, 63 specimens of N. barba from Angra dos Reis, coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro (23 degrees 0' S, 44 degrees 19' W), Brazil, were necropsied to study their infracommunities of metazoan parasites. Fifteen species of metazoan parasites were collected: 2 digeneans, 1 monogenean, 2 cestodes, 1 acantocephalan, 2 nematodes, 6 copepods, and 1 hirudinean. Ninety-six percent of the catfishes were parasitized by at least one metazoan parasite species. A total of 646 individual parasites was collected, with mean of 10.3 +/- 16.6 parasites/fish. The copepods were 37.5% of the total parasite specimens collected. Lepeophtheirus monacanthus was the most dominant species and the only species with abundance positively correlated with the host total length. Host sex did not influence parasite prevalence or mean abundance of any species. The mean diversity in the infracommunities of N. barba was H = 0.130 +/- 0.115 with no correlation with host's total length and without differences in relation to sex of the host. One pair of endoparasites (Dinosoma clupeola and Pseudoacanthostomum floridensis) showed positive association and covariation between their abundances and prevalences. The parasite community of N. barba from Rio de Janeiro can be defined as a complex of species with low prevalence and abundance and with scarcity of interspecific associations. However, because of both the presence of assemblages of sympatric ariid species as well as the spawning behavior characteristic of these fishes, additional comparative studies of the parasite component communities of ariids are necessaries to elucidate this pattern.     

Distribution and abundance of the salmonid parasite Parvicapsula minibicornis (Myxozoa) in the Klamath River basin (Oregon-California, U.S.A.)

The distribution and abundance of the myxosporean parasite Parvicapsula minibicornis in the Klamath River mirrored that of Ceratomyxa shasta, with which it shares both its vertebrate and invertebrate host. Assay of fish held at sentinel sites and water samples collected from those sites showed that parasite prevalence was highest below Iron Gate dam, which is the barrier to anadromous salmon passage. Above this barrier parasite levels fluctuated, with the parasite detected in the free-flowing river reaches between reservoirs. This was consistent with infection prevalence in the polychaete host, Manayunkia speciosa, which was greater than 1% only in populations tested below Iron Gate dam. Although a low prevalence of infection was detected in juvenile out-migrant fish in the Trinity River, the tributaries tested did not appear to be a significant source of the parasite to the mainstem despite the presence of large numbers of infected adult salmon that migrate and spawn there. Rainbow trout became infected during sentinel exposure, which expands the host range for P. minibicornis and suggests that wild rainbow trout populations are a reservoir for infection, especially above Iron Gate dam. High parasite prevalence in the lower Klamath River is likely a combined effect of high spore input from heavily infected, spawned adult salmon and the proximity to dense populations of polychaetes.     

Evaluation of a cohabitation challenge model in immunization trials for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Calcein marking and cohabitation challenges have not been investigated in fish parasite research. This study evaluated a cohabitation challenge method in immunization trials against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) using calcein, a fluorescent dye, to mark channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Fish were marked by calcein immersion at 0, 500, and 1500 mg l(-1), and then challenged with 15 000 theronts fish(-1). No difference was noted in fish infection levels, mortality, and mean days to death (MDD) caused by Ich between unmarked and marked fish or between fish marked with high (1500 mg l(-1)) and low (500 mg l(-1)) concentrations of calcein. After ensuring that calcein marking had no effect on the susceptibility of fish to Ich theronts, 2 immunization trials were conducted to evaluate the cohabitation challenge model using calcein-marked catfish. Fish mortality, relative percent survival (RPS), and MDD were compared between cohabitation-challenged fish and fish challenged by non-cohabitation. No significant difference was observed in RPS for cohabitation-challenged fish and fish challenged by non-cohabitation. A cohabitation challenge can be used as an alternative challenge method in parasite studies, since it closely mimics natural exposure.     

Distribution and abundance of parasite nematodes: ecological specialisation,phylogenetic constraint or simply epidemiology?

We investigate the patterns of abundance‐spatial occupancy relationships of adult parasite nematodes in mammal host populations (828 populations of nematodes from 66 different species of terrestrial mammals). A positive relationship between mean parasite abundance and host occupancy, i.e. prevalence, is found which suggests that local abundance is linked to spatial distribution across species. Moreover, the frequency distribution of the parasite prevalence is bimodal, which is consistent with a core‐satellite species distribution. In addition, a strong positive relationship between the abundance (log‐transformed) and its variance (log‐transformed) is observed, the distribution of worm abundance being lognormally distributed when abundance values have been corrected for host body size.
Hanski et al. proposed three distinct hypotheses, which might account for the positive relationship between abundance and prevalence in free and associated organisms: 1) ecological specialisation, 2) sampling artefact, and 3) metapopulation dynamics. In addition, Gaston and co‐workers listed five additional hypotheses. Four solutions were not applicable to our parasitological data due to the lack of relevant information in most host‐parasite studies. The fifth hypothesis, i.e. the confounded effects exerted by common history on observed patterns of parasite distributions, was considered using a phylogeny‐based comparison method. Testing the four possible hypotheses, we obtained the following results: 1) the variation of parasite distribution across host species is not due to phylogenetic confounding effects; 2) the positive relationship between mean abundance and prevalence of nematodes may not result from an ecological specialisation, i.e. host specificity, of these parasites; 3) both a positive abundance‐prevalence relationship and a negative coefficient of variation of abundance‐prevalence relationship are likely to occur which corroborates the sampling model developed by Hanski et al. We argue that demographic explanations may be of particular importance to explain the patterns of bimodality of prevalence when testing Monte‐Carlo simulations using epidemiological modelling frameworks, and when considering empirical findings. We conclude that both the bimodal distribution of parasite prevalence and the mean‐variance power function simply result from demographic and stochastic patterns (highlighted by the sampling model), which present compelling evidence that nematode parasite species might adjust their spatial distribution and burden in mammal hosts for simple epidemiological reasons.     

Variable growth and longevity of yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) in the Everglades of south Florida,USA

Yellow bullhead (Ictaluridae: Ameiurus natalis) is the most abundant ictalurid catfish in the Everglades of southern Florida, USA, and, as both prey and predator, is one of many essential components in the ecological‐simulation models used in assessing restoration success in the Everglades. Little is known of its biology and life history in this southernmost portion of its native range; the present study provides the first estimates of age and growth from the Everglades. In total, 144 yellow bullheads of 97–312 mm total length (TL) were collected from canals and marshes of the Everglades between April 2000 and January 2001, and from October 2003 to February 2005. Fish were aged using cross‐sections of pectoral spines and ranged from 1–12 years, with the maximum age almost twice that of any yellow bullhead previously reported. Yellow bullheads from south Florida grew relatively rapidly during their first 3 years, but after age 5 growth slowed and fish approached an asymptote of ～214 mm TL. Compared to other populations in the United States, yellow bullhead in the Everglades grew relatively slowly, were smaller at age overall, but survived to older ages.     

Community ecology of metazoan parasites of the anchovy Anchoa tricolor (Osteichthyes: Engraulidae) from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Between October 2001 and March 2002, 103 specimens of A. tricolor from Angra dos Reis (23 degrees 01' S, 44 degrees 19' W), in the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed in order to study their metazoan parasite infracommunities. Ten species of metazoan parasites were collected: 4 digeneans, 1 cestode, 1 acantocephalan, 2 nematodes, 1 copepod, and 1 hirudinean; 77.7% of the fishes were parasitized by one or more metazoan, with a mean of 3.5 +/- 6.2 parasite/fish. Digenean was the most dominant with 4 species that accounted for 53.2% of the total parasites collected; Ergasilus sp. was the most abundant species. Abundance and prevalence of Parahemiurus merus (Linton, 1910) were positively correlated with the total length of host. Relationships between total body length of fish and both total parasite abundance and mean parasite species richness were observed. Mean parasite diversity of species was correlated to host's total length, with significant differences found between male and female fishes. Two pairs of larval species showed significant positive association and covariation. The metazoan parasite infracommunities of A. tricolor presented dominance of larval endoparasites; correlation of parasite abundance, diversity, and species richness with host total length; and low number of parasite interspecific relationships. The parasite community of A. tricolor showed some similarities with the parasite community of another South American Atlantic engraulid.     

丹江口水库鲤肠道寄生蠕虫群落结构与季节动态

2004年2月到2005年11月在丹江口水库库区206尾鲤(Cyprinus carpio)肠道中检获蠕虫11种,其中复殖吸虫3种,线虫5种,棘头虫2种,绦虫1种。总体感染率为45.63%,平均感染丰度为4.23±12.65,平均感染强度为9.29±17.48,其中饭岛盾腹吸虫(Aspidogaster ijimai)的总感染率(25.24%)和平均感染丰度(1.76±6.46)最大,瓣睾鲫吸虫(Carassatrema lamellorchis)的感染强度(25.00±46.68)最大。除部分平均感染丰度较低的线虫如鲤带巾线虫(Cucullanus cyprini)外,其他蠕虫的分布类型均为聚集分布,蠕虫群落多样性指数为4.63,均匀度指数为0.60,对群落多样性的季节动态分析表明,各季节群落多样性和均匀度波动较大,并无明显变化规律。每尾鲤感染蠕虫种数多在1—4种之间,所有感染的11种蠕虫中优势种为饭岛盾腹吸虫;次优势种为日本侧殖吸虫(Asymphylodora japonica)、中华许氏绦虫(Khawia sinensis)、瓣睾棘吸虫和鲤长棘吻虫(Rhadinarhynchus cyprini);非优势种为对盲囊线虫(Contracaecum sp.)、鲤带巾线虫、鲤杆咽吸虫(Rhabdochona cyprini)、黄颡刺盖线虫(Spinitectus gigi)、毛细线虫(Capillaria sp.)和木村小棘吻虫(Micracanthorhynchina motomurai)。在种间协调关系方面,鲤杆咽线虫和瓣睾鲫吸虫、鲤长棘吻虫和饭岛盾腹吸虫、对盲囊线虫和木村小棘吻虫、鲤长棘吻虫和木村小棘吻虫之间分别存在显著正关联。对优势种和次优势种蠕虫中种群的季节动态分析表明,鲤寄生蠕虫各组分的感染率和平均感染丰度存在显著的季节差异,在秋、冬季节的感染水平普遍比较高,而到春夏则急剧下降,但中华许氏绦虫无显著季节变化。     

Compared parasitic infection of Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Diphyllobothridae) in Cyprinidae species: Rutilus rubilio and Scardinius erythrophthalmus in two dam reserves in Tunisia

Monitoring quantitative parameters of parasitism by ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Diphyllobothridae) was performed by examining 516 fish belonging to two introduced freshwater species: Rutilus rubilio (350 individuals) and Scardinius erythrophthalmus (166 individuals). These fish were collected in two dam reserves in Tunisia, Sidi Salem and Nebhana. The analysis of the aquatic bird's composition in these two reserves revealed the existence of piscivorous bird species that were previously reported as final host of Ligula. Monitoring the bird's composition highlighted higher relative abundance and frequency in Sidi Salem than in Nebhana dam reserve. The analyses of the prevalence, mean intensity and abundance of the parasite revealed the most important values in roach, Rutilus rubilio which seems to be the preferential second intermediate host of the parasite Ligula intestinalis in these environments. Comparative analysis of parasitism in both explored sites suggests that Ligula intestinalis presents two different strategies of infestation. In Sidi Salem reserve, which is larger than Nebhana and containing on important and diversified piscivorous species, the parasite infects a maximum of host individuals with low parasite mean intensity values. However, at Nebhana, which is a smaller reserve, the parasite infects fewer individuals than Sidi Salem but with higher mean intensity. The highest prevalence values were recorded in large size classes of roach species in Sidi Salem reserve.