The role of the non-indigenous pumpkinseed Lepomisgibbosus (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) in the life cycle of Bothriocephalusclaviceps (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) in Europe

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) 2021, Vol.120 (9), p.3163-3171
• Main Authors: Kvach, Yuriy, Tkachenko, Maria Yu, Bartáková, Veronika, Zięba, Grzegorz, Ondračková, Markéta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bothriocephalidae; Bothriocephalus claviceps; Centrarchidae; Cestoda; Fish Parasitology - Original Paper; Host-parasite interactions; Immunology; Introduced species; Lepomis gibbosus; Life cycles; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Nonnative species; River basins
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07268-8

Infection of non-indigenous pumpkinseed ( Lepomis gibbosus , Centrarchidae) with the bothriocephalidean cestode Bothriocephalus claviceps (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) was confirmed at several sites in the lower Oder river basin in Poland. The preferred host for this cestode species is the European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ), with a wide range of other fish species serving as paratenic hosts. The pumpkinseed showed a relatively high prevalence and abundance of larvae, along with several mature and gravid specimens, thereby confirming development of B. claviceps to the adult stage in an alternative host. As such, the pumpkinseed may represent an additional definitive host for this cestode, in addition to its role as a paratenic host, as previously recorded in other European regions. Our results indicate that inclusion of pumpkinseed as an additional definitive host in the cestode’s life cycle, high infection of pumpkinseed with B. claviceps larvae and inclusion of pumpkinseed in the eel’s diet could potentially lead to increased parasite pressure on native fish hosts. Further comparative studies or experimental testing will be required to confirm this.