Some aspects of Artemia biology affected by cestode parasitism

Artemia individuals from a wild population, bearing cestode cysticercoids (Hymenolepididae) were kept in the laboratory during four months to observe influences of the parasite on the host biology. No differences were found between parasitized and unparasitized shrimps regarding final adult size. The higher survival of parasitized animals suggests that parasitism is not pathogenic. The most dramatic effect was host castration. Parasitized individuals showed higher total lipid levels, probably linked to carotenoid pigments conveying a red color to parasitized shrimps.