| Summary: | Actinobdella inequiannulata was found on the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni, and less frequently on the longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus, in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. This study established the presence of only one species of leech, Actinobdela inequiannulata (Moore, 1901) parasitic on the white sucker, Catsotomus commersoni (Lacepede, 1803), and occasionally on the longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus (Forster, 1773), and was also undertaken to determine the population dynamics of this leech species and its influence on fish community and health. In May and October, less than 3% of the fish carried leeches. In July, 80% of the fish were parasitized with an average of 1.5 leeches per fish. Observations on leech weight suggest young leeches attach to fish from May to September, some mature in July, and a second generation of leeches re-parasitize the fish in August and September. The mean size of leeches on suckers increased from May until July, after which size remained relatively constant. Leeches produced characteristic lesions on the opercula of suckers. Fully-developed lesions on fish opercula by aggregated leeches had varying amounts of central erosion, extravasation, dermal and epidermal hyperplasia, and necrosis.
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