Biology of Philometroides huronensis (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) in the white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni)

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Uhazy, Leslie S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: Southern Lake; Catostomus catostomus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z77-186; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z77-186

White suckers (Catostomus commersoni (Lacépède)) collected from various locations in southern Ontario were examined for Philometroides huronensis Uhazy, 1976. Stages of the parasite were recovered from the peritoneum around the swim bladder, bases of the fins, and the fins. Prevalence of infections was high and intensities relatively low. The parasite was less prevalent in longnose (Catostomus catostomus (Forster)) and redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum (LeSucur)) suckers collected from the same area.Males, female fourth-stage larvae, uninseminated. inseminated, subgravid, and gravid females were recovered from fish collected from southern Lake Huron. Prevalence was 83 to 100% throughout the year and showed no significant seasonal trend. Numbers of worms recovered ranged from 1 to 32 per fish; 77% were infected with from 1 to 7 worms. Intensities of infections varied significantly with season, being highest during fall, winter, and early spring. All age groups of white suckers were infected; however, intensity did not vary significantly with host age. Although P. huronensis was highly prevalent throughout the year and from one year to the next, the life cycle was completed in a single year.The evolution of three valid species in the Philometrinae from the white sucker in North America is proposed, based on the evidence that before Pleistocene glaciation there were three separate forms of white sucker.