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

Barry, J; Newton, M; Dodd, J A; Evans, D; Newton, J; Adams, C E

Abstract

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.

Citation

Barry, J., Newton, M., Dodd, J. A., Evans, D., Newton, J., & Adams, C. E. (2017). The effect of foraging and ontogeny on the prevalence and intensity of the invasive parasite Anguillicola crassus in the European eel Anguilla anguilla. Journal of Fish Diseases, 40(9), 1213-1222. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12596

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 10, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jan 13, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Deposit Date: Sep 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 3, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Fish Diseases
• Print ISSN: 0140-7775
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1213-1222
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12596
• Keywords: Anguillicola crassus, eel, foraging, ontogeny, parasite prevalence
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1802890