Host gill attachment causes blood-feeding by the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) chalimus larvae and alters parasite development and transcriptome

• Published in: Parasites & Vectors
• Main Authors: Heggland, Erna Irene, Dondrup, Michael, Nilsen, Frank, Eichner, Christiane
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central 2020
• Subjects: The Louse; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2764496; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04096-0

Background: Blood-feeding is a common strategy among parasitizing arthropods, including the ectoparasitic salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), feeding off its salmon host’s skin and blood. Blood is rich in nutrients, among these iron and heme. These are essential molecules for the louse, yet thei...