Parasites of Salmo trutta L. from the Tirino River. II. Host-parasite interactions of helminth species

The hundred and sixteen brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) which were examined for helminth parasites were captured in the River Tirino, (L'Acquila - Italy). Six parasite species (Phyllodistomum simile, Crowcrocaecum testiobliquum, Crepidostomum metoecus, Cyathocephalus truncatus, Truttaedacnitis truttae and Dentitruncus truttae) were recovered. Ecological studies on each helminth species recovered have been carried out analysing the following aspects; the preference of each parasite species for certain microhabitats in the host; the incidence and intensity of each parasitic infection according to sex, age and season.     

Parasites of Salmo trutta L. from the Tirino River. Part IV. Intermediate hosts of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781) and Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955

During studies on helminth parasites of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from the river Tirino (L'Aquila - Italy), the intermediate hosts of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781) and Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955 have been searched for. A total of 15,444 amphipoda belonging to the following 3 species: Echinogammarus roco Karman, 1973, Echinogammarus tibaldii Pinkster and Stock, 1970, and Gammarus italicus Goedmakers and Pinkster, 1977, have been dissected. E. roco, E. tibaldii and G. italicus were found infected with procercoid of Cyathocephalus truncatus (new hosts record and first procercoid record in Italy). E. roco, E. tibaldii and G. italicus were found infected with acanthella and cystacanth of Dentitruncus truttae (first record of intermediate hosts). Accordingly the ecology of the cestod C. truncatus and of the acanthocephalan D. truttae in their intermediate hosts has been studied considering principally the incidence and the seasonal occurence of the parasites.     

Parasites of underyearling kamchatka mykiss Parasalmo mykiss mykiss (Osteichithyes:Salmonidae) in the Utkholok River (North-Western Kamchatka)

Eight species of parasites, Apiosoma piscicolum piscicolum, Apatemon sp., Diplostomum sp., Bunoderidae gen. sp., Crepidostomum metoecus, Hysterothylacium gadi aduncum, Salvelinema salmonicola, and Cucullanus truttae had been found in underyearling Kamchatka mykiss (with fork length 28-41 mm) from the Utkholok River, North-Western Kamchatka. Infestation rate of the fishes with each parasite species was rather low. Presence of C. truttae in underyearling Kamchatka mykiss could not be explained by the conceptual model of its life cycle proposed by Moravec (1979). Spatial and temporal isolation of underyearling Kamchatka mykiss and ammocoetes, as the elements of a local food web, suggest that the lamprey larvae do not participate in the transmission of C. truttae to underyearling Kamchatka mykiss.     

The secondary structure of the unusually long 18S ribosomal RNA of the myxozoan Sphaerospora truttae and structural evolutionary trends in the Myxozoa

The nearly complete 18S rRNA sequence of the myxozoan parasite Sphaerospora truttae shows an extraordinary length (2,552bp) in comparison with other myxozoans and with metazoans in general (average 1,800-1,900bp). The sequence shows nucleotide insertions in most variable regions of the 18S rRNA (V2, V4, V5 and V7), with especially large expansion segments in V4 and V7. In the myxozoans, nucleotide insertions and specific secondary structures in these regions of the gene were found to be strongly related to large scale phylogenetic clustering and thus with the invertebrate host type. Whereas expansion segments were generally found to be absent in the malacasporeans and the clade of primary marine myxozoan species, they occur in all taxa of the clade containing freshwater species, where they showed a consistent secondary structure throughout. The longest expansion segments occur in S. truttae, Sphaerospora elegans and Leptotheca ranae, which represent a clade that has emerged after the malacosporeans and before the radiation of all other myxozoan genera. These three species demonstrate structural links to the malacosporeans as well as other unique features. A smaller number of nucleotide insertions in different subhelices and specific secondary structures appear to have evolved independently in two marine genera, i.e. Ceratomyxa and Parvicapsula. The secondary structural elements of V4 and V7 of the myxozoan 18S rRNAs were found to be highly informative and revealed evolutionary trends of various regions of the gene hitherto unknown, since previous analyses have been based on primary sequence data excluding these regions. Furthermore, the unique features of the V4 region in S. truttae allowed for the design of a highly specific PCR assay for this species.     

The fertility of thorny-headed worms in the genus Echinorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from Lake Baikal

The total number of eggs (absolute fecundity) and the number of eggs per 1 gr of body weight (relative fecundity) of Echinorhynchus borealis Linstow, 1901, E. salmonis salmonis Muller, 1784, E. s. baicalensis Bogolepova, 1957 and E. truttae Schrank, 1788 from the Baikal lake was examinide. The absolute fecundity decreases in the row or species: E. borealis (26,200 eggs), E. s. salmonis (110,113), E. truttae (8123), E. s. baicalensis (6087). The fecundity of acanthocephalans depends on the host species. The dependence of the whole number of larvae upon the body length of females (r = 0.804) is shown.     

Parasitic fauna of Salmo trutta L. of the Tirino river. I. Redescription of Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955 and considerations on the genus Dentitruncus Sinzar, 1955]

Dentitruncus truttae Sinzar, 1955 is redescribed and figured from specimens from Salmo truttae L. collected in the Tirino river (L'Aqula-Italy). The diagnosis of the genus Dentitruncus is completed and the characteristics separating Dentitruncus Sinzar, 1955 from Pseudorhadinorhynchus Achmerov e Drombrowskaja-Achmerova, 1941 are discussed.     

Vertical distribution of acanthocephalans of the order Echinorhynchida in Lake Baikal

Vertical distribution of acanthocephalans of the order Echinorhynchida is studied in Lake Baikal. Four species and subspecies from cottid fishes (Perciformes: Cottoidei) were examined, namely Pseudoechinorhynchus borealis (Linstow, 1901), Metechinorhynchus salmonis salmonis (Muller, 1780), M.s. baicalensis Bogolepova, 1957, M. truttae (Schrank, 1788). In the littoral (0-5 m) and sublittoral (5-100 m) areas all these species and subspecies were occurred, white in the profundal (100-300 m) and abyssal (900-1600 m) areas only Metechinorhynchus salmonis baisalensis has been found.     

Parasite fauna of the European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) from Lake Onega

Data on the parasite fauna of the adult European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) from Lake Onega are reported. Ten parasite species are found, including trematodes Diplostomum petromyzifluviatilis and D. spathaceum (metacercariae), cestode Proteocephalus longicollis, nematodes Cucullanus truttae and Raphidascaris acus, acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus salmonis, ectoparasitic infusoria Chilodonella hexastica, Trichodina tenuidens, and Trichodinella epizootica, and fungus Saprolegnia parasitica. Three species are found to be dominate, namely D. petromyzifluviatilis, Cucullanus truttae, and P. longicollis. Comparative analysis of the parasite faunas of the lampreys from other basins is carried out. Some similarity in the parasite faunas of lampreys and salmonids is discovered.     

Ecological factors influencing the composition of the parasite fauna of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), in Ireland

The parasites of 121 eels from three contrasting sites in the Corrib catchment area, western Ireland, were investigated. Thirteen species, Ergasilus gibbus, Diplostomum gasierostei, Diplostomum spathaceum, Sphaerostoma bramae. Bothrocephalus claviceps, Proteocephalus macrocephalus, Camallanus lacustris, Cucullanus truttae, Paraquimperia tenerrima, Raphidascaris acus, Acanthocephalus clavula, Acanthocephalus lucii and Pomphorhynchus laevis , were recorded. Two species, P. macrocephalus and P. tenerrima , have not previously been reported from Ireland. Microhabitat preferences of the parasites were noted. Variations in the occurrence and intensities of the parasites observed were analyzed in relation to sampling period, host habitat and characteristics of the eel populations studied. A variety of factors were shown to be of importance, including composition of the fish communities and distributional patterns of intermediate hosts and piscivorous birds. Differences were noted in the parasit-ocoenoses of eels in still and running water sites. The occurrence and intensities of infection of several parasite species were shown to be related to age and size of host: the occurrence of B. claviceps. C. truttae, P. tenerrima and R. acus was shown to be related to either age or size of eels, which is accounted for by the fact that eels become increasingly piscivorous with age and increasing size. Little evidence of interspecific interactions was noted.     

The metazoan parasites of freshwater fishes in the Corrib catchment area, Ireland

A survey of the parasites of 243 fish belonging to 13 species, from the Corrib catchment area, western Ireland, was undertaken. At least 32 species of metazoan parasites were shown to be present. Diplostomum gasterostei, Tylodelphys clavata, Eubothrium salvelini, Cucullanus truttae, Raphidascaris acus, Ergasilus gibbus and Salmincola gordoni appear to be first records for Ireland and Phyllodistomum conostomum has not previously been reported from the British Isles. New host records involving Lamptera planeri, Salvelinus alpinus, Abramis brama, Noemacheilus barbatulus, Anguilla anguilla and Pungitius pungitius for the British Isles are given.     

A preliminary study of parasite diversity in the anadromous Kamchatkan mikizha Parasalmo mykiss mykiss (Osteichthyes: Salmoniformes: Salmonidae)

The study of parasites associated with the anadromous mikizha from several rivers of the Western Kamchatka has revealed 44 parasite species. The majority of parasites (59%) belong to marine and estuarine-marine species. Lecithophyllum bothryophorum, Echinorhynchus leidyi and plerocercoids of the family Litobothriidae were found for the first time in anadromous fish entering into Asian continental watersheds. It has been revealed that only a few specimens of the anadromous mikizha feed in fresh waters. Most of feeding fish consume a minor amount of food, and this feeding is occasional. Young forms of intestinal parasites of the freshwater and estuarine-freshwater groups (Neoechinorhynchus spp., Crepidostomum spp., Cucullanus truttae, Eubothrium salvelinf) come into anadromous fishes mainly before their entering in fresh waters.     

The life cycle of Sphaerospora truttae (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) and some features of the biology of both the actinosporean and myxosporean stages

A previously undescribed echinactinomyxon type actinosporean was shown experimentally to be the alternate stage of Sphaerospora truttae. The echinactinomyxon type spores were found to be released from Lumbriculus variegatus and occasionally Tubifex tubifex. Overall infection prevalence of the echinactinomyxon was 0.14%. Peak release was in March-May each year. S. truttae spores developed in experimentally infected salmon 4.5 mo post-exposure to echinactinomyxon spores. Extrasporogonic stages of S. truttae first appeared in naturally infected salmon in early July and persisted for 8 to 10 wk. Correlation between peak release of echinactinomyxon spores and appearance of extrasporogonic stages of S. truttae is discussed.     

Echinorhynchus brayi n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from Pachycara crassiceps (Roule) (Zoarcidae), a deep-sea fish

Echinorhynchus brayi n. sp. (Palaeacanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) is described from Pachycara crassiceps (Roule) (Zoarcidae) from the Porcupine Seabight, Northeast Atlantic. The new species closely resembles E. canyonensis Huffman & Kliever, 1977, a parasite of a Pacific zoarcid, but has longer lemnisci, larger eggs and larger testes. E. brayi n. sp. can be readily differentiated from the ten other Echinorhynchus spp. recorded from deep-sea fishes (E. abyssicola, E. gadi, E. longiproboscis, E. malacocephali, E. melanoglaeae, E. muraenolepisi, E. petrotschenkoi, E. sebastolobi, E. trachyrinci and E. truttae), because it has fewer hooks per longitudinal row.     

Molecular relationships and phylogeny in a community of myxosporeans and actinosporeans based on their 18S rDNA sequences

The community of myxosporeans and actinosporeans inhabiting a typical Scottish highland stream and the outflow area of an adjacent salmon hatchery was analysed on the basis of their 18S rDNA sequences. Nine myxosporeans belonging to the genera Sphaerospora, Chloromyxum, Zschokkella, Myxidium, Hoferellus and Myxobilatus were identified from mature spores in different organs of the fish species present. Twelve actinosporean types belonging to the collective groups of neoactinomyxum, aurantiactinomyxon, raabeia, echinactinomyxon and synactinomyxon were found to be released from oligochaete worms collected from sediments. Twenty of the 21 sequences obtained from these myxozoans are new entries to the myxozoan database, and the genera Chloromyxum, Hoferellus and Myxobilatus were entered for the first time. Study of the molecular relationships between the different taxa and with other myxozoan sequences available showed that the myxosporeans inhabiting the urinary system clearly cluster together, independently of host species or spore morphology. However, the sequences of the two Sphaerospora species encountered show considerable differences from other members of this group and all other freshwater myxosporeans, and they were found to occupy an ancestral marine position. Three actinosporeans, i.e. Neoactinomyxum eiseniellae, Aurantiactinomyxon pavinsis and Raabeia 'type 3' were found to represent alternate life cycle stages of Chloromyxum sp., Chloromyxum truttae and Myxidium truttae, respectively (approximately 1400 identical base pairs each). Three other actinosporeans encountered (two echinactinomyxon and one raabeia type) showed over 92% sequence identity with myxosporeans from GenBank, whereas all other actinosporeans formed a closely related group devoid of any known myxosporeans.     

The distribution and variation of Synura species (Chrysophyceae) in Connecticut, USA

The genus Synura was found to be an important member of the phytoplankton communities in many Connecticut lakes, present in more than fifty percent of the 113 collections made during 1984. Thirteen taxa, including a new forma, Synura petersenii f. truttae , were recorded for the first time in Connecticut waters using SEM. S. petersenii was the most important species, present in forty-one percent of the samples. Evidence for denoting S. petersenii var. glabra as a form, instead of a variety, is presented. Ecological preferences for some species are discussed.     

Helminth and arthropod parasites of fishes in the mountain national parks of Canada

Sixteen parasite species including one monogenean, two digeneans, five cestodes, six nematodes. one acanthocephalan, and one copepod were collected from 257 fish of 13 species examined from 32 lake and nine stream sites in the mountain National Parks of British Columbia and Alberta. The following parasites are reported from Alberta for the first time: Bunodera luciopercae (Müller, 1776), Eubothrium rugosum Batsch 1786, Proteocephalus parallacticus MacLulich, 1943, Rhabdochona cascadilla Wigdor, 1918, Rhabdochona milleri Choquette, 1951, Contracaecum brachyurum (Ward & Magath, 1917), Bulbodacnitis truttae (Fabricius, 1794), Neochinorhynchus rutili (Mueller, 1780), and Ergasilus nerkae Roberts 1963. Tetraonchus variabilis Mizelle & Webb, 1953 and Rhabdochona milleri Choquette, 1951 are reported from British Columbia for the first time.     

Peculiarities of the parasitofauna of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar L.), brown trout (Salmo truttae L.), and char (Salvelinus alpinus L.) in the Utsjoki River system (Northern Finland)

Data on the parasite diversity in Salmonidae fish parr from different parts of the Utsjoki River obtained during 1993-1995 and 2006-2007 are presented. Three fish species, Salmo salar L., S. truttae L., and Salvelinus alpinus L., were examined on the presence of helminthes. Twenty species of salmon parasites were found, the majority of which are the parasites with complicated life cycles. Infusorians C apriniana piscium, myxosporidia Chloromyxum januaricus and Myxobolus neurobius, metacercaria of the genera Diplostomum and Apatemon, and the nematode Raphidascaris acus larvae were the most numerous in salmon parasite fauna. Brown trout had the most number of specific parasite species, whereas char was infested by protozoan parasites only.     

Molecular and histological identification of the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma cf. capitatum from the human small intestine

Acanthocephalans of the genus Bolbosoma are intestinal parasites of marine mammals with a lifecycle similar to that of anisakid nematodes. Several cases of Bolbosoma infection in humans have been reported, but no species identification has been made. Here, we report a case of Bolbosoma infection, in which the worm was found in histological sections of the partially resected small intestine of a Japanese man. Morphological features of the worm reconstructed from serial sectioning indicated that the worm was most likely to be a sexually immature female of Bolbosoma capitatum. DNA extraction from paraffin-embedded sections and ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 sequencing showed that this species formed a monophyletic group with Bolbosoma nipponicum, and was clearly distinguishable from Corynosoma spp. or Polymorphus spp. These results may provide a reference for identifying and characterizing unknown acanthocephalans found in histological sections.     

Associations and interactions among intestinal helminths of the brown trout, Salmo trutta, in northern Italy

Species co-occurrences and interspecific associations between intensity of infection were studied in helminth communities of three populations of brown trout, Salmo trutta, from northern Italy. Of the eight helminth species, only four were common enough to be included in the analyses: Pomphorhynchus laevis, Acanthocephalus anguillae, Echinorhynchus truttae and Cyathocephalus truncatus. The observed frequencies of co-occurrences of the different species, based on presence/absence data, did not differ from those predicted by a null model derived from prevalence data. However, the intensity of infection (number of individuals per fish) of different helminth species were generally, but not always significantly, negatively correlated in tests of pairwise associations. Variation in fish sizes and its effect on infection levels, and whether or not two helminth species used the same or different intermediate hosts, had no influence on these findings. Of the few significant negative associations found between pairs of helminth species, none was found in more than one fish population. This suggests that interspecific associations may be condition-dependent: even in apparently similar localities, the same combinations of helminth species show different associations. Without evidence of replicability, it is almost impossible to conclude to the consistent role of competition between any pair of helminth species in the field.