Publication details
Relationship among Gyrodactylus species (Monogenea) and their fish hosts under experimental conditions.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Programme and Abstracts of XI European Congress of Ichthyology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Gyrodactylus; host parasite interactions |
| Description | The members of genus the Gyrodactylus Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) are common parasites of freshwater fish. These viviparous monogenean parasites usually occur on the skin, fins and the gill apparatus of the host fish. Spatial distribution and migration of gyrodactylids over fish body are closely connected. The differences in preferred niches among Gyrodactylus species exist. Host range differs among Gyrodactylus species. Species attacking single host species are known as specialists and species which can attack more than one fish species as generalists. Several experiments were performed to test host specificity and the abilities of Gyrodactylus species to switch the host fish under experimental conditions using parasites of different strategy (eg. specialist vs. generalist species). Related fish species were kept in experimental tanks together and separately. After three weeks all fish were examined for the presence of monogenean parasites to see the situation. The first group included two fish species of family Cyprinidae, roach (Rutilus rutilus, L.) and minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus, L.). The second group two species of the Percidae, perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.) and ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus, L.). A total of 21 species of monogeneans parasites belonging to 5 genera were observed, among them 9 species of the genus Gyrodactylus were determined. Gyrodactylus cernuae was the only one species observed on ruffe and perch. According to our observation this parasite probably doesnt survive for longer period on perch. There was found 4 species of Gyrodactylus on roach and 6 species on minnow. G. vimbi attacked both cyprinid fish species in the cases of putted together or separately. Other Gyrodactylus species were strictly host specific. Most of gyrodactylids on the roach and minnow were situated on fins. On the other hand perch and ruffe were mainly infected by gyrodactylids on the gill apparatus and mouth. |
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