Parasite fecundity decreases with increasing parasite load in the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis infecting Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

• Published in: Journal of Fish Diseases
• Main Authors: Ugelvik, M S, Skorping, A, Mennerat, A
• Other Authors: Universitetet i Bergen, Norges Forskningsråd
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Veterinary (miscellaneous); Aquatic Science; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12547; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fjfd.12547; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfd.12547

Abstract Aggregation is common amongst parasites, where a small number of hosts carry a large proportion of parasites. This could result in density‐dependent effects on parasite fitness. In a laboratory study, we explored whether parasite load affected parasite fecundity and survival, using ectoparasitic salmon lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer, 1837) infecting Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) hosts. We found a significant reduction in fecundity with higher parasite load, but no significant effect on survival. Together with previous findings, this suggests that stronger competition amongst female lice under high parasite load is a more likely explanation than increased host immune response.