The susceptibility of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) and flounder (Platichthys flesus) to experimental infections with the monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris
1998; Institute of Parasitology of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Volume: 45; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1803-6465
Autores Tópico(s)Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
ResumoThree-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.), nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius (L.)) and flounder (Platichthys flesus (L.)) are widespread teleosts, which all have behaviours involving migration between freshwater and brackish/sea water environments. Their importance in dispersal of the freshwater monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957, which causes heavy losses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr in infected Norwegian rivers, was tested indirectly by their susceptibility and resistance to the parasite in laboratory experiments. Gyrodactylus salaris attached to the three fish species, but no parasite reproduction was observed. The infections were eliminated after a maximum of 3 days on flounder, 6 days on nine-spined stickleback, and 8 days on three-spined stickleback. Thus these fishes are innately resistant to G. salaris, and are therefore of no importance concerning the population dynamics of G. salaris in freshwater systems. However, attachment of parasites indicates that these fish species may function as transport hosts, and theoretically play a part in the dispersal of G. salaris in nature.
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