Report on the parasites found in the freshwater fishes found in the UK: Barbus barbus,
Squalius cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus and Phoxinus phoxinus
2.1: Results
In total, 2 species of parasite were found in the four freshwater fishes (Barbus barbus, Squalius
cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus and Phoxinus phoxinus) – the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus and
the cestode Ligula intestinalis. Total prevalence of parasites found in the fish was incredibly low,
with 5 organisms found in all 117 fish which were dissected. Figure 1 shows distribution and
prevalence of Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis within fish hosts.
2.5
2
Parasite Prevalence
1.5
Pomphorynchus
1 tereticollis
Ligula intestinalis
0.5
0
Chub Barbel Minnow Dace
Fish species
Figure 1: prevalence of two parasite species (Pomphorhynchus and Ligula intestinalis) found to be infecting
young fish of four different species (Barbus barbus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Squalius cephalus and Phoxinus
phoxinus).
Parasites found differed between fish species; in Barbel only P. laevis was found, in Minnow only L.
intestinalis was found, both Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis was found in Dace and no
parasites were found in Chub. Both Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis were found in the gut of
the fish, with incredibly low prevalence, with only 5 parasites found in 117 fish which were
checked for parasites. Parasite load, which describes the number of parasites which an individual
host harbours, was incredibly low; indeed no fish were found with anymore than 1 parasite. In
addition, ectoparasite species such as Gyrodactylus and Argulus foliaceus were not found in any of
the fish.
Squalius cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus and Phoxinus phoxinus
2.1: Results
In total, 2 species of parasite were found in the four freshwater fishes (Barbus barbus, Squalius
cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus and Phoxinus phoxinus) – the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus and
the cestode Ligula intestinalis. Total prevalence of parasites found in the fish was incredibly low,
with 5 organisms found in all 117 fish which were dissected. Figure 1 shows distribution and
prevalence of Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis within fish hosts.
2.5
2
Parasite Prevalence
1.5
Pomphorynchus
1 tereticollis
Ligula intestinalis
0.5
0
Chub Barbel Minnow Dace
Fish species
Figure 1: prevalence of two parasite species (Pomphorhynchus and Ligula intestinalis) found to be infecting
young fish of four different species (Barbus barbus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Squalius cephalus and Phoxinus
phoxinus).
Parasites found differed between fish species; in Barbel only P. laevis was found, in Minnow only L.
intestinalis was found, both Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis was found in Dace and no
parasites were found in Chub. Both Pomphorhynchus and L. intestinalis were found in the gut of
the fish, with incredibly low prevalence, with only 5 parasites found in 117 fish which were
checked for parasites. Parasite load, which describes the number of parasites which an individual
host harbours, was incredibly low; indeed no fish were found with anymore than 1 parasite. In
addition, ectoparasite species such as Gyrodactylus and Argulus foliaceus were not found in any of
the fish.
