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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #96569
Title: PATHOGENICITY OF AN EXOTIC HETEROPHYID TREMATODE INFECTING THE GILLLS OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ETHEOSTOMA FONTICOLA (FOUNTAIN DARTER).

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item GOODWIN, ANDREW - UAPB
item SALMON, MELISSA - STSU
item BRANDT, THOMAS - USFWS
item HUFFMAN, DAVID - STUS

Submitted to: International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A heterophyid trematode associated with an exotic aquatic snail (Melanoides tuberculata) caused massive gill infections in the endangered fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola) living in the Comal River near San Marcos, Texas. Every darter (n=150) examined was infected. A host response encased and killed the trematodes leaving hardened cysts (70-100æ X 150-200æ) that numbered in excess of 200 per gill arch in some fish (25 to 35 mm - total fish length). Wet mount microscopy demonstrated extensive proliferation of gill epithelium and cartilage displacement and deformity. Histological examination revealed parasites adjacent to the cartilage in the central sinus of gill filaments. The parasites were encased in masses of cartilage that swelled affected filaments to several times their normal diameter and completely disrupted the normal gill structure. Affected filaments were short, thick, distorted and had few if any lamellae.