New evidence on a cold case: trophic transmission, distribution and host-specificity in Hedruris spinigera (Nematoda: Hedruridae)

• Published in: Folia parasitologica Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 223 - 231
• Main Authors: Luque, J.L.,Universidade Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Vieira, F.M.,Universidade Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Herrmann, K.,University of Otago, Dunedin (New Zealand). Dept. of Zoology, King, T.M.,University of Otago, Dunedin (New Zealand). Dept. of Zoology, Poulin, R.,University of Otago, Dunedin (New Zealand). Dept. of Zoology, Lagrue, C.,CNRS, Toulouse (France). Lab. d' Ecologie Fonctionnelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Republic Parazitologický ústav, Akademie ved Ceské republiky 01.09.2010
• Subjects: ALDRICHETTA FORSTERI; Amphipoda - parasitology; ANATOMIA ANIMAL; ANATOMIE ANIMALE; ANIMAL MORPHOLOGY; Animals; CICLO VITAL; CYCLE DE DEVELOPPEMENT; ESTOMAC; ESTOMAGO; FEMALES; FEMELLE; Fish Diseases - epidemiology; Fish Diseases - parasitology; Fishes - parasitology; Food Chain; GALAXIAS MACULATUS; GENETICA DE POBLACIONES; GENETIQUE DES POPULATIONS; HEDRURIS SPINIGERA; HEMBRA; Host-Parasite Interactions; HOTE INTERMEDIAIRE; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15589; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15969; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15995; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24702; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33795; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_34326; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_39363; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_39449; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4160; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_421; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_42221; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4317; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_45652; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5112; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5164; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5574; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7422; HUESPEDES INTERMEDIARIOS; INTERMEDIATE HOSTS; LAC; LAGOS; LAKES; LIFE CYCLE; MACHO; MALE; MALES; NEMATODA; Nematoda - anatomy & histology; Nematoda - physiology; NEW ZEALAND; New Zealand - epidemiology; NOUVELLE-ZELANDE; NUEVA ZELANDIA; PARACOROPHIUM EXCAVATUM; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; PERCA FLUVIATILIS; POPULATION GENETICS; Prevalence; RETROPINNA RETROPINNA; RHOMBOSOLEA SPP; SALMO TRUTTA; STOMACH; New Zealand
• ISSN: 0015-5683; 1803-6465
• DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.029

The life cycle of Hedruris spinigera (Nematoda: Hedruridae) is determined here with the first formal identification of the parasite's intermediate host: the crustacean amphipod Paracorophium excavatum. Adult H. spinigera are redescribed from specimens collected from the stomach of fishes, Retropinna retropinna and Aldrichetta forsteri, from Lake Waihola, New Zealand. Immature adults of the parasite collected from intermediate hosts (P. excavatum) are also described for the first time. The prevalence, abundance and intensity of infection of H. spinigera in several fish species are quantified along with the occurrence of P. excavatum, the parasite's intermediate host, in fish stomach contents. Although H. spinigera's transmission mode (trophic transmission) and fish diet potentially expose all fish species to infection, some level of host specificity must exist as parasite prevalence, abundance and intensity of infection vary greatly between potential definitive host species. We suggest here that the anatomy of the fish digestive tract and especially that of the stomach plays an important role in host suitability for H. spinigera. While P. excavatum is the only intermediate host in Lake Waihola, H. spinigera was found in six different fish species: Aldrichetta forsteri, Galaxias maculatus, Retropinna retropinna, Rhombosolea retiaria, Perca fluviatilis and Salmo trutta; although typical hedrurid attachment and mating positions were observed only in R. retropinna and A. forsteri. The limited distribution of H. spinigera is most likely due to that of its different host species (intermediate and definitive), all inhabitants of coastal fresh and brackish waters.