The effect of a naturally acquired infection by 3 acanthocephalan parasites Dentitruncus truttae, Echinorhynchus truttae and Polymorphus minutus on the reproductive potential of their intermediate host, Echinogammarus tibaldii (Amphipoda) from Lake Piediluco (Centre of Italy) was assessed. During May 2007, 1135 amphipods were collected from 2 different samplings and examined for larval helminths. Forty-five amphipods were infected and of those, 16 were infected with D. truttae (intensity = 1-3 larvae), 15 with E. truttae (intensity = 1-2 larvae), and 14 with P. minutus (intensity = 1 larva). The sex ratio was nearly 1:1 in all examined amphipods. One female infected with D. truttae contained 6 eggs in the brood pouch and another female infected with E. truttae contained 5 eggs. However, none of the 8 female amphipods harbouring P. minutus larva contained eggs in their brood pouch. Uninfected females of the same size and body length as that of the infected females contained between 20 and 32 eggs. No acanthocephalan species were found to co-occur.
Effect of Acanthocephala infection on the reproductive potential of crustacean intermediate hosts
SAYYAF DEZFULI, Bahram;LUI, Alice;GIARI, Luisa
2008
Abstract
The effect of a naturally acquired infection by 3 acanthocephalan parasites Dentitruncus truttae, Echinorhynchus truttae and Polymorphus minutus on the reproductive potential of their intermediate host, Echinogammarus tibaldii (Amphipoda) from Lake Piediluco (Centre of Italy) was assessed. During May 2007, 1135 amphipods were collected from 2 different samplings and examined for larval helminths. Forty-five amphipods were infected and of those, 16 were infected with D. truttae (intensity = 1-3 larvae), 15 with E. truttae (intensity = 1-2 larvae), and 14 with P. minutus (intensity = 1 larva). The sex ratio was nearly 1:1 in all examined amphipods. One female infected with D. truttae contained 6 eggs in the brood pouch and another female infected with E. truttae contained 5 eggs. However, none of the 8 female amphipods harbouring P. minutus larva contained eggs in their brood pouch. Uninfected females of the same size and body length as that of the infected females contained between 20 and 32 eggs. No acanthocephalan species were found to co-occur.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
