BIOLOGY OF THE LEECH ACTINOBDELLA INEQUIANNULATA MOORE, 1901 (ANNELIDA: HIRUDINEA: RHYNCHOBDELLIDA: GLOSSIPHONIIDAE), PARASITIC ON THE WHITE SUCKER, CATOSTOMUS COMMERSONI LACEPEDE, 1803 AND THE LONGNOSE SUCKER, CATOSTOMUS CATOSTOMUS FORSTER, 1773, IN ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO, CANADA

• Main Authors: D Klemm, B Daniels, W Moser, R.J Lester
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Canada; Leech; Catostomus catostomus; Longnose sucker
• Online Access: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimsapi.dispdetail?deid=64366

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. Catostomus commersoni parasitized with Act. inequiannulata was collected from July to October, 1973 and May to October, 1974. 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 produced by aggregated leeches had varying amounts of central erosion, extravasation, dermal and epidermal hyperplasia, and necrosis.