Acanthocephala from lake fishes in wisconsin usa host and seasonal distribution of species of the genus neoechinorhynchus
Amin, O.M.
Journal of Parasitology 72(1): 111-118
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3395 Accession: 004650662
Five species of Neoechinorhynchus are reported, not including Neoechinorhynchus robertbaueri Amin, 1985, which was described elsewhere. Of 14 species of fish infected with Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus (Van Cleave, 1913) Van Cleave, 1919, from Silver and Tichigan Lakes, Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieui and Esox lucius were the principal definitive hosts. Lepomis macrochirus may be a second intermediate host in its life cycle. Most recruitment occurred in late summer and in autumn, sexual development and breeding by spring, and growth and elimination of ripe eggs by summer. A partial overlap of generations was observed in the autumn. Neoechinorhynchus prolixoides mostly infected Erimyzon sucetta but was also found in M. salmoides, M. dolomieui, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Stizostedion vitreum, Pimephalus promelas (all new host records) and Moxostoma erythrurum; new state record for Wisconsin. Measurements of Neoechinorhynchus prolixoides were provided and comparison is made with the original description. Extension of its binucleate lemniscus relative to anterior testis margin is not a good diagnostic character. The seasonal periodicity of N. prolixoides bore basic similarities to that of N. cylindratus but involved more juveniles, particularly in the spring and its simultaneous growth and maturation produced the highest adult intensity index during the summer. The smaller land-locked Silver Lake was considerably more heavily populated by both species than the larger river-connected Tichigan Lake. Both species showed significant but limited posterior migration in the intestine of their major hosts by the summer. Their intestinal distribution was compared with sites occupied by other helminth species in concurrent infections. Host sex did not affect worm burden, but size did. Neoechinorhynchus rutili (Mueller, 1780) Hamann, 1892 and Neoechinorhynchus strigosus Van Cleave, 1949 were also recovered from Culaea inconstans and Catostomus commersoni respectively. Neoechinorhynchus salmonis Ching, 1984 is reported for the first time in the U.S. from Lepomis cyanellus (new host species and family records) that was recovered earlier from the Pike River, which drains into Lake Michigan.