The effect of foraging and ontogeny on the prevalence and intensity of the invasive parasite Anguillicola crassus in the European eel Anguilla anguilla

Publication history: Accepted - 10 November 2016; Published online - 13 January 2017. Infection patterns of the invasive Anguillicola crassus nematode were investigated in a population of the European eel Anguilla anguilla where parasite invasion is very recent, Loch Lomond, Scotland. Intensity leve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Fish Diseases
Main Authors: Barry, J., Newton, M., Dodd, J. A., Evans, Derek, Newton, J., Adams, C. E.
Other Authors: Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017
Subjects:
Anguillicola crassus
eel
foraging
ontogeny
parasite prevalence
Loch Lomond
Anguilla anguilla
European eel
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12518/327
https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12596
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Summary:Publication history: Accepted - 10 November 2016; Published online - 13 January 2017. Infection patterns of the invasive Anguillicola crassus nematode were investigated in a population of the European eel Anguilla anguilla where parasite invasion is very recent, Loch Lomond, Scotland. Intensity levels of the parasite were associated with differences in fish ontogeny and trophic ecology. Although eels foraged on both fish and invertebrates, individuals which were smaller and fed on invertebrates (>70% contribution to diet) were found to contain a greater number of swim bladder parasites compared to larger eel with a predominance of fish (>60% contribution) in their diet. Within affected fish, a significant negative relationship was found between fish length and parasite intensity, with smaller individuals having higher parasite intensity than larger individuals. This study indicates that food intake and infection risk are linked in this recently infected host–parasite system. From a management perspective increasing our understanding of how infection intensity and repeated exposure is linked to resource use in an ecosystem is important for the future management of this endangered species in Europe. This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme (project 2859 ‘IBIS’) managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. Stable isotope analysis was undertaken at the NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility SUERC East Kilbride Glasgow G750QF UK :award code EK212-06/13.

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