The rate of development and longevity of the monogenean skin parasite Entobdella soleae

Using soles (Solea solea) infected experimentally with oncomiracidia of the monogenean skin parasite Entobdella soleae, it was found that the parasite begins to assemble eggs at about 85 days post infection and may survive for as long as 6 1/2 months at 12 +/- 1 degrees C. Growth of the anterior hamuli continues throughout life but the growth rate decreases with time. The oldest (largest) parasites recovered from laboratory soles were similar in size to the largest parasites collected in the wild.