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Potential interactions between Acanthocephalus anguillae and Pomphorhynchus laevis in their natural hosts chub, Leuciscus cephalus and the European eel, Anguilla anguilla

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. M. Bates
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter University, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS
C. R. Kennedy
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter University, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS

Summary

Chub and eels were experimentally infected via intermediate hosts harbouring cystacanths, with Pomphorhynchus laevis alone, or Acanthocephalus anguillae alone, or simultaneously with mixtures of both species in varying proportions, and sampled at 7, 56 or 112 days post-infection. Examination of chub revealed that both species showed low establishment and growth rates, differing markedly from British field data, where chub is apparently one of the most important hosts, and preventing further meaningful experiments. Both species showed higher establishment rates in eels, but A. anguillae both grew faster and matured to a greater extent than P. laevis, reflecting field data. No evidence of any interactions, competitive or otherwise, was found in the mixed infections in eels at low or high infection levels. The results were interpretated with regard to British field data and current theories of the role of interspecific competition in structuring fish helminth communities.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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