Parasites of fishes in the Colorado River and selected tributaries in Grand Canyon, Arizona

As part of the endangered humpback chub (HBC; Gila cypha ) Adaptive Management Program, a parasite survey was conducted from 28 June to 17 July 2006 in 8 tributaries and 7 adjacent sections of the main stem of the Colorado River, U.S.A. In total, 717 fish were caught, including 24 HBC. Field necropsies yielded 19 parasite species, 5 of which (Achtheres sp., Kathlaniidae gen. sp., Caryophyllaidae gen. sp., Myxidium sp., and Octomacrum sp.) are new records for Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.A. Spearman's correlation coefficient analyses showed no correlations between parasite burden and fork length for various combinations of fish and parasite species. Regression analyses suggest that no parasite species had a strong effect on fish length. The most diverse parasite community (n = 14) was at river kilometer (Rkm) 230, near the confluence of Kanab Creek. The most diverse parasite infracommunity (n = 12) was found in the non-native channel catfish (CCF; Ictaluris punctatus). Overall parasite prevalence was highest in CCF (85%) followed by that in HBC (58%). The parasite fauna of humpback chub was mainly composed of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Ornithodiplostomum sp. metacercariae.     

The distribution of the introduced tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Australian freshwater fishes

Native and exotic fishes were collected from 29 sites across coastal and inland New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, using a range of techniques, to infer the distribution of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) and the host species in which it occurs. The distribution of B. acheilognathi was determined by that of its principal host, carp, Cyprinus carpio; it did not occur at sites where carp were not present. The parasite was recorded from all native fish species where the sample size exceeded 30 and which were collected sympatrically with carp: Hypseleotris klunzingeri, Hypseleotris sp. 4, Hypseleotris sp. 5, Phylipnodon grandiceps and Retropinna semoni. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi was also recorded from the exotic fishes Gambusia holbrooki and Carassius auratus. Hypseleotris sp. 4, Hypseleotris sp. 5, P. grandiceps, R. semoni and C. auratus are new host records. The parasite was not recorded from any sites in coastal drainages. The only carp population examined from a coastal drainage (Albert River, south-east Queensland) was also free of infection; those fish had a parasite fauna distinct from that of carp in inland drainages and may represent a separate introduction event. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi has apparently spread along with its carp hosts and is so far restricted to the Murray-Darling Basin. The low host specificity of this parasite is cause for concern given the threatened or endangered nature of some Australian native freshwater fish species. A revised list of definitive hosts of B. acheilognathiis presented.     

Seasonal occurrence of metazoan parasites of Puntius binotatus in an irrigation canal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Two hundred specimens of the cyprinid fish Puntius binotatus were collected over a period of 1 year, February 1976–January 1977, from an irrigation canal in Palau Pinang, Malaysia. Six species of parasites were recovered: Dactylogyrus sp., Rhabdochona penengensis Furtado, 1965; Proteocephalus sp., Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, Pallisentis gaboes MacCallum, 1918 and Lamproglena minula Capart, 1943. The prevalence and mean density of two ectoparasites ( Dactylogyrus sp. and L. minuta ) and an endoparasite (B. acheilognathi) were examined in relation to season and host size. Fish were found to be free of these parasites in many months of the year. Prevalence and mean density of Dactylogyrus sp. and L. minuta were found to be highest during the early part of wet season, whereas those of B. acheilognathi were found to be highest in the later part of wet season. Prevalence of L. minuta increased with increasing size offish, but mean density was least in the largest fish. Both prevalence and mean density of B. acheilognathi were highest in smaller fish, whereas that of Dactylogyrus sp. showed little variation in the three size–groups.     

Spatial heterogeneity in the parasite communities of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) in southeastern Nebraska

The intestinal helminth communities of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) were studied in the streams of southeastern Nebraska to characterize spatial variation, to determine whether drainages act as regional species pools, and to examine the spatial patterning of individual parasite species within and among drainages. Creek chub were sampled in the summer of 2003 and the spring of 2004 at each of 12 sites distributed evenly among 3 drainages in the Big Nemaha River watershed. Four intestinal helminths were recovered: Allocreadium lobatum, Proteocephalus sp., Rhabdochona canadensis, and Paulisentis missouriensis. Host size had little or no effect on the composition of the parasite communities of creek chub, either among individual fish or among samples. In contrast, drainage and sample date explained 82% of the variation in mean infracommunity species richness among samples, and 62% of the variation in mean infracommunity abundance among samples. Drainage differences were determined by the distributions of P. missouriensis and R. canadensis; whereas, A. lobatum and Proteocephalus sp. were more uniformly distributed among drainages. Each drainage was characterized by a unique pattern of species diversity at infracommunity, component community, and drainage levels of organization.     

Observations on two Rhabdochona species (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) from freshwater fishes in Argentina, including description of Rhabdochona fabianae n. sp

Helminthological examination of specimens of the freshwater fishes Bryconamericus iheringi Boulenger, 1887 (Characidae) and Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns, 1842) (Anablepidae), collected from Medina River, Province of Tucuman, Argentina, revealed the presence of 2 species of parasitic nematodes, Rhabdochona fabianae n. sp. and Rhabdochona acuminata (Molin, 1860) (Rhabdochonidae). Rhabdochona fabianae n. sp. was characterized by the presence of 16 anterior teeth in the prostom and filamented eggs in females. Rhabdochona acuminata was recorded for the first time in the north of Argentina.     

Two new species of rhabdochonids (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) from freshwater fishes in Mexico, with a description of a new genus

Two new nematode species, Beaninema nayaritense n. gen., n. sp. and Rhabdochona xiphophori n. sp., are described on the basis of the specimens recovered from the gall bladder and intestine of 2 fishes, Cichlasoma beani (Jordan) (Cichlidae, Perciformes) and Xiphophorus sp. (Poeciliidae, Cyprinodontiformes), respectively, from Mexico. The monotypic genus Beaninema differs from other rhabdochonid genera mainly in the presence of large conical teeth in the middle of the prostom. Rhabdochona xiphophori is characterized mainly by a unique structure of the prostom (presence of 6 anterior teeth; dorsal and ventral teeth unusually broad, with 2 lateral horns) and the shape of the deirids (bifurcated, with markedly long base).     

Estimation of the endohelminth parasite species richness in freshwater fishes from La Mintzita Reservoir, Michoacán, Mexico

In total, 9 endohelminth species were found to parasitize 7 fish species (2 cyprinids, 4 goodeids, and 1 poeciilid) from La Mintzita Reservoir, Michoacán, in central Mexico; 5 were larvae, including 3 allogenic species (Clinostomum complanatum, Tylodelphys sp., Posthodiplostomum minimum) and 2 autogenic species (Serpinema trispinosum, Spiroxys sp.). Four were enteric autogenic adults, i.e., Margotrema bravoae, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, Proteocephalus longicollis, and Rhabdochona lichtenfelsi. The metacercariae of P. minimum reached the highest levels of prevalence and mean abundance among host species. Our results confirm the depauperate nature of the helminth communities of freshwater fishes from central Mexico. On the basis of this data set, we estimated the total endohelminth species richness for each component community by using 7 nonparametric estimators whose performance was evaluated with the unscaled measures of bias, precision, and accuracy. We found that Chaol and Bootstrap are the most precise and least biased methods for the 7 component communities: however, species richness was consistently underestimated. The underestimation was an unavoidable consequence of the patchy distribution of helminth species among different component communities, particularly at the small sample size used in our study.     

Monogenean parasites from Clariidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes) in Cameroon: I. Description of two new species of Gyrodactylus from the Nyong basin

The study of gill and skin parasites of three fishes species belonging to the genus Clarias: C. camerunensis, C. jaensis and C. pachynema, from the Nyong basin (Cameroon), revealed the presence of two new Monogenean species of the genus Gyrodactylus Nordmann: G. camerunensis n. sp. and G. nyongensis n. sp. parasite of Clarias camerunensis, C. jaensis and C. pachynema. Gyrodactylus camerunensis n. sp. is clearly distinguished from G. nyongensis n. sp. by the smaller size of the haptor sclerites. These two new species differ also from their closest African relatives of the genus Gyrodactylus, G. rysavyi, G. clarii and G. alberti, by the morphology and size of the haptorail sclerites. Their host specificity was discussed and appeared stenoxenous (mesostenoxenous).     

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.     

Comparison of electrofishing and trammel netting variability for sampling native fishes

The variability in size structure and relative abundance (CPUE; number of fish ≥200 mm total length, L_T, collected per hour of electrofishing or trammel netting) of three native Colorado River fishes, the endangered humpback chub Gila cypha, flannelmouth sucker Catostomus latipinnus and bluehead sucker Catostomus discobolus, collected from electrofishing and trammel nets was assessed to determine which gear was most appropriate to detect trends in relative abundance of adult fishes. Coefficient of variation (CV) of CPUE ranged from 210 to 566 for electrofishing and 128 to 575 for trammel netting, depending on season, diel period and species. Mean CV was lowest for trammel nets for humpback chub (P = 0·004) and tended to be lower for flannelmouth sucker (P = 0·12), regardless of season or diel period. Only one bluehead sucker >200 mm was collected with electrofishing. Electrofishing and trammel netting CPUE were not related for humpback chub (r = ?0·32, P = 0·43) or flannelmouth sucker (r = ?0·27, P = 0·46) in samples from the same date, location and hour set. Electrofishing collected a higher proportion of smaller (<200 mm L_T) humpback chub (P < 0·001), flannelmouth suckers (P < 0·001) and bluehead suckers (P < 0·001) than trammel netting, suggesting that conclusions derived from one gear may not be the same as from the other gear. This is probably because these gears fished different habitats, which are occupied by different fish life stages. To detect a 25% change in CPUE at a power of 0·9, at least 473 trammel net sets or 1918 electrofishing samples would be needed in this 8 km reach. This unattainable amount of samples for both trammel netting and electrofishing indicates that detecting annual changes in CPUE may not be practical and analysis of long‐term data or stock assessment models using mark‐recapture methods may be needed to assess trends in abundance of Colorado River native fishes, and probably other rare fishes as well.     

Evidence of experimental postcyclic transmission of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in bonytail chub (Gila elegans)

We examined the role that predation of infected conspecific fish and postcyclic transmission might play in the life cycle of the Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) Yamaguti, 1934. Young-of-the-year (YOY) bonytail chub (Gila elegans) were exposed to copepods infected with B. acheilognathi and subsequently fed to subadult bonytail chub. Within 1 wk after consumption of the YOY chub, subadults were necropsied and found infected with gravid and nongravid tapeworms. This study provides evidence that postcyclic transfer of B. acheilognathi can occur. Postcyclic transmission may be an important life history trait of B. acheilognathi that merits consideration when studying the impact and distribution of this invasive and potentially pathogenic tapeworm.     

The parasite community infecting flounders, Platichthys flesus, in the tidal Thames.

The composition of the parasite fauna of the flounder, Platichthys flesus, retrieved from two locations in the tidal Thames is described in detail for the first time. The combined parasite species list of the flounders from Lots Road in the upper tideway and West Thurrock in the middle tideway consisted of one protozoan (Glugea stephani), one monogenean (Gyrodactylus sp.), four larval digeneans (Cryptocotyle concava, Timoniella imbutiforme, T. praeterita, and Labratrema minimus), five adult digeneans (Derogenes varicus, Lecithaster gibbosus, Podocotyle sp., Plagioporus varius, and Zoogonoides viviparus), one larval cestode (unidentified tetraphyllidean), one or possibly more larval nematodes (unidentified) plus five adult nematodes (Capillaria sp., Cucullanus heterochrous, C. minutus, Contracaecum sp. and Goezia sp.), two acanthocephalans (Pomphorhynchus laevis and Acanthocephalus anguillae), three copepods (Lepeophtheirus pectoralis, Acanthochondria sp. and Lernaeocera branchialis), and one mollusc (unidentified glochidia). The overall parasite community of flounders from Lots Road and West Thurrock were compared in terms of species richness and diversity. The parasite community in flounders from the former location in the upper tideway was found to be less diverse than that of its counterpart at West Thurrock in the middle estuary. The component community of Lots Road flounders was dominated by the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis.     

The parasite fauna of characids' (Osteichthyes: Characidae) Anambra River, Nigeria

Baseline information on the parasites of frequently caught species of the characids namely Hydrocynus vittatus , Alestes baremoze , Brycinus macrolepidotus and Brycinus leuciscus was investigated in Anambra River from August 2004 to July 2005. The parasites recovered were the Myxosporid, Myxobolus sp (Protozoa), Polyopistocotylids, Diplozoon ghanense and Neodipolzoon polycotyleus (Monogeneans), the Caryophyllid Caryophylleus sp (Cestoda) and Rhabdochona sp (Nematoda). The prevalence of Caryophylleus sp in B. macrolepidotus (14.2%) and A. baremoze (8.1%) as well as Rhabdochon sp and Myxobolus sp in H . vittatus (9.6% and 7.8% respectively) was relatively high (>7.0%); while the other parasite species Myxobolus sp in B. leuciscus (2%), D. ghanense in B. macrolepidotus (1.9%) and N. polycotyleus in A. baremoze (1.9%) had a much lower prevalence (2.7%). Distribution of parasites was clearly seasonal. Dissolved oxygen (8.0–14.0) mg l⁻¹ and pH (5.5–7.0) influenced the occurrence of the parasites whereas temperature (20.1–27.5 DC) showed no much effect.     

Metazoan parasites of Neogobius fishes in the Slovak section of the River Danube

Metazoan parasites were investigated in three non‐native fishes (monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis, bighead goby Neogobius kessleri and round goby Neogobius melanostomus) collected from the former and current main channel of the River Danube and from the River Hron, Slovakia, in November 2003. Thirteen parasite species were identified: Triaenophorus crassus, Diplostomum sp., Tylodelphys clavata, Metorchis xanthosomus, Nicolla skrjabini, Gyrodactylus proterorhini, Pomphorhynchus laevis, Contracoecum sp., Raphidascaris acus, Anguillicola crassus, Unio tumidus, Anodonta anatina and Pseudoanodonta complanata. The maximum parasite diversity was found in N. fluviatilis. Total parasite abundance was significantly higher in N. kessleri, but no significant differences among sampling sites were observed. Pomphorhynchus laevis and glochidia of Anodonta anatina reached 100% prevalence in N. kessleri in the new channel of the Danube and, in general, these species were also the most prevalent parasites in all three goby species. For endoparasites, gobies served mostly as intermediate (digenean, cestodes and nematodes) or paratenic (acantocephalan and nematodes) hosts. All parasite species found are common parasites in the Middle Danube basin. No parasites specific to Neogobius, known from their native populations, were observed.     

Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda) in the endangered fish Profundulus hildebrandi (Cyprinodontiformes), Mexico

The Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, has been considered one of the most dangerous parasites for cultured carp and a risk for native freshwater fish populations worldwide. This cestode is highly pathogenic for fishes especially fry. In this paper we record B. acheilognathi parasitizing the endangered and endemic freshwater fish Profundulus hildebrandi from the endorheic basin of San Crist6bal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. B. acheilognathi was recorded from 10 of the 11 sampled localities, with high values of prevalence (> 60%) and mean abundance (> 4.50). The infection was persistent all through the year; gravid cestodes were recorded in all samples. It is assumed that B. acheilognathi entered to this area through the introduction of common carp Cyprinus carpio, for aquacultural purposes. The data presented in this paper document the successful introduction, colonization and establishment of this alien species into the endangered P. hildebrandi.     

Intestinal helminths of some Nile fishes near Cairo, Egypt with redescriptions of Camallanus kirandensis Baylis 1928 (Nematoda) and Bothriocephalus aegyptiacus Rysavy and Moravec 1975 (Cestoda)

Of 10 species of Nile fishes collected during the summer of 1975 at Giza near Cairo, Egypt, 7 harbored 7 helminth species. Recovered material includes 3 species of nematodes: Camallanus kirandensis Baylis 1928 (new host and geographical record), Cucullanus barbi Baylis 1923, and Rhabdochona congolensis Campana-Rouget 1961 (new host record); three species of cestodes: Khawia sp. (new in Africa), Polyonchobothrium clarias (Woodland 1925) Meggitt 1930, and Bothriocephalus aegyptiacus Rysavy and Moravec 1975; and one acanthocephalan species, Acanthosentis tilapiae Baylis 1947 (new geographical record). Morphologic observations of each species are reported. C. kirandensis and B. aegyptiacus are redescribed.     

Host-parasite relationships of longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae, from the Ford River, Michigan.

A total of 1,115 longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae (family Cyprinidae), were examined for parasites from May 1983 through October 1986 from 3 localities in the Ford River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Thirteen parasite species (1 Monogenea, 2 Digenea, 2 Cestoda, 4 Nematoda, 1 Acanthocephala, 3 Protozoa) infected dace. The parasite faunas of dace, taxonomically and in species number, were similar between localities. Posthodiplostomum minimum minimum, Neascus sp., and Rhabdochona canadensis were the most common helminths infecting dace from each locality. The first 2 species did not exhibit consistent seasonal infection patterns between years, whereas the prevalence and mean intensity of R. canadensis in dace from the downriver locality were higher in summer 1983, 1984, and 1985. The intensity of infection of each of these helminth species significantly increased with host length. The prevalences and mean intensities of P. m. minimum, Neascus sp., and R. canadensis as well as the helminth infracommunity diversity were highest in dace from the upriver locality. The major factors that influenced parasite intensity were environmental factors that occurred when and where a fish began its life, the sequence of events that occurred in each habitat the fish encountered during its life, and the length of exposure (age of fish). Dace have isolationist helminth infracommunities arising from factors including ectothermy, a simple enteric system, restricted vagility, and being gape-limited. Allogenic helminths with indirect life cycles predominate in the depauperate helminth fauna of dace.     

A new monogenean species,Gyrodactylus ajime n. sp. (Gyrodactylidae), parasitic on Niwaella delicata (Niwa), an endemic loach of Japan

A new gyrodactylid species, Gyrodactylus ajime n. sp., is described from the skin and fins of an endemic and commercially important loach Niwaella delicata (Niwa) (Cypriniformes: Cobitoidea: Cobitidae), from the upper reach of the River Yura in Ashiu, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan with scanning electron microscopy observations and molecular data. This species can be distinguished from congenerics by characteristics of the sickle of the marginal hook: the sickle proper is composed of two straight sections and a curved section; its short point extends beyond the limit of the toe and is directed downwards; and the upper corner of heel angular is slightly raised. There are 31 species and subspecies of native loaches (Cobitoidea) known from Japan, of which 25 are red-listed nationally, and two are commercially important. I reviewed all reports of monogeneans from Japanese loaches, and found that only five fish species have been recorded as hosts of these parasites. This suggests that the parasite fauna of these fishes is poorly described. It is urgent to thoroughly describe the monogenean parasites of loaches in Japan as some of the parasite species may be threatened with co-extinction because their hosts are threatened, and to understand any negative impacts on commercially important fish species.

     

Morphology and taxonomic status of two little-known nematode species parasitizing North American fishes

Examination of some freshwater and brackishwater (estuarine) fishes in South Carolina in October 2009 yielded, in addition to other parasites, 2 little-known nematode species identified as Dichelyne fastigatus Chandler, 1935 (Cucullanidae), from the red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus), from an estuary, and Rhabdochona ovifilamenta Weller, 1938 (Rhabdochonidae), from the shorthead redhorse, Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Lesueur), from Lake Moultrie. Light and scanning electron microscopy (the latter used for the first time for these species) made it possible to describe several important, but previously unreported, taxonomic features in D. fastigatus, such as the location of the excretory pore and deirids, the shape of deirids and a gubernaculum, the shape and size of eggs, the presence of precloacal ventral oblique muscle bands, and 11 pairs of caudal papillae and a pair of phasmids. It distinctly differs from the most similar Dichelyne cotylophora (Ward and Magath, 1917), a parasite of North American freshwater percids, in the number and arrangement of postanal papillae and by a markedly elevated cloacal region. Records of Dichelyne lintoni Barreto, 1922, from S. ocellatus probably concern D. fastigatus. Examination of R. ovifilamenta revealed a high degree of morphologic and biometric variability in this species. Based on our analysis, Rhabdochona laurentiana Lyster, 1940 , Rhabdochona milleri Choquette, 1951, and Rhabdochona catostomi Kayton, Kritsky, and Tobias, 1979, are synonymized with R. ovifilamenta Weller, 1938, typically a parasite of North American catostomids.     

西藏拉萨河鱼类内寄生蠕虫的种类组成及其群落特征

2004年7月对西藏拉萨河鱼类的体内寄生蠕虫进行了调查,共采集到7种鱼类,其中6种隶属于裂腹鱼亚科,1种隶属于鳅科。在这些鱼类中,共发现了2种棘头虫和1种棘头虫未定种、3种线虫、3种绦虫及异肉吸虫属(Allocreadium)的种类。它们分别是青海新棘吻虫(Neoechinorhynchus qinghaiensis)、裸鲤棘头虫(Echinorhynchus gymnocyprii)和新棘吻虫未定种(Neoechinorhynchus sp.),希蚋杆咽线虫(Rhabdochona hellichi)、对盲囊线虫(Contracaecum sp.)和胃瘤线虫(Eustrongylides sp.),东方短结绦虫(Breviscolex orientalis)、舌状绦虫(Ligula sp.)和裂头绦虫(Diphyllobothrium sp.),以及寄生裂腹鱼的异肉吸虫(Allocreadium spp.)。对青海新棘吻虫、杆咽线虫、东方短结绦虫、异肉吸虫和新棘吻虫未定种在鱼类中发育成熟的寄生虫进行了形态描述。从不同的裂腹鱼中获得的异肉吸虫属的种类未能鉴定到种;其他没有鉴定到种的寄生虫主要是利用鱼类作为中间寄主的种类,其种类鉴定则有赖于成虫的获得。迄今为止,青海新棘吻虫和裂腹鱼异肉吸虫(A.schizothoracis)仅在裂腹鱼类中被发现,可能表明裂腹鱼具有特异性的棘头虫和异肉吸虫。在所检查的7种鱼类中,除异齿裂腹鱼(Schizothorax oconnori)没有发现蠕虫外,其他6种鱼都发现了4~6种蠕虫,显示较高的物种丰富度;5种裂腹鱼蠕虫群落的Shannon-Wiener指数较高(0·6131~1·5434),而细尾高原鳅(Triplophysa stenura)的较低(0·2911);5种裂腹鱼寄生虫群落之间的相似性相对较高,为(0·1732±0·2303)~(0·3751±0·2758),而裂腹鱼与细尾高原鳅的相似性则较低,为(0·0288±0·0877)~(0·0916±0·1618)。在这些寄生蠕虫中,以鱼类为中间宿主的寄生虫种类有4种,他们都以鸟类为终末寄主,因而也在一定程度上反映了该地区的动物区系组成。