Parasites of arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus (Pallas), stocked into Michigan lakes

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Muzzall, Patrick M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1990
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Arctic grayling; Thymallus arcticus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-085; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z90-085

Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) stocked into seven lakes and one river in northern Michigan were examined for parasites in October and November 1987 and 1988. Grayling were 1 + year of age and were in the lakes for at least 140 days. Of 154 grayling examined, 66% were infected with at least one of the following parasites: Crepidostomum sp., Diplostomum sp., Ornithodiplostomum sp., Proteocephalus sp., Cystidicoloides tenuissima, Spiroxys sp., Pomphorhynchus bulbocoll, and Trichophrya sp. Diplostomum sp., Ornithodiplostomum sp., and Po. bulbocolli had high prevalences and mean intensities in three separate lakes. Trichophrya sp. infected a high percentage of grayling from two lakes. Factors associated with these parasites becoming established in stocked grayling are discussed.