Parasites of Fish from the Great Lakes - Great Lakes Fishery ...

Digenetic Trematodes
This parasite group was the most represented with the largest number of species (31) and eight
families. Individual families were represented by only one species, except for the Allocreadiidae
and Gorgoderidae. The family Allocreadiidae had eight species represented, with Crepidostomum
farionis reported from seven fish species. Five species of Crepidostomum and four species of
Phyllodistomum were documented. Individuals of most digenean species occurred only in the
intestine, except for Crepidostomum farionis (also gall bladder), Phyllodistomum farionis and
Phyllodistomum coregoni (ureters), and Sanguinicola occidentalis (blood). Individuals of six
families were represented by larval/immature digenetic trematodes mostly infecting non-intestinal
sites. Ichthyocotylurus erraticus was associated with the heart of five fish species. Seven species
are in the Diplostomidae, with Diplostomum spathaceum reported from 16 fish species.
Monogeneans
Twenty-six species representing seven families of monogeneans were reported. Nine and seven
species were in the Ancyrocephalidae and Dactylogyridae, respectively. The genera Urocleidus
and Dactylogyrus were each represented by five species. Most species occurred on the gills,
except for Lyrodiscus rupestris and Pellucidhaptor catostomi (fins, nares, nasal cavity),
Acolpenteron catostomi (ureters), Gyrodactylus bairdi (also fins) and Gyrodactylus dechtiara
(fins). Most monogenean species were host-specific to one fish species or one fish family, but
Discocotyle sagittata was found on the gills of five salmonid species.
Cestodes
Adult cestodes in seven families have been reported. Four species of caryophyllids occurred in
catostomids, Eubothrium crassum and E. salvelini only infected salmonids, and Eubothrium
rugosum was only found in Lota lota. Eubothrium salvelini and Cyathocephalus truncatus
infected six and five fish species, respectively. Seven species are in the Proteocephalidae with six
of these species in the genus Proteocephalus. Many species in this family are host-specific to one
fish species or family. Triaenophorus crassus and T. nodulosus are host-specific to Esox lucius.
Larval/immature cestodes from four families were found. Five species (Diphyllobothrium
ditremum, D. laruei, D. latum, D. oblongatum, Ligula intestinalis) are in the Diphyllobothriidae.
Diphyllobothrium ditremum, D. laruei, and D. oblongatum only infected coregonids.
Diphyllobothrium latum has only been reported from Esox lucius and Lota lota. Species in this
family and Triaenophorus spp. were found in a variety of non-intestinal sites. Larvae of
Triaenophorus crassus occurred in coregonids and salmonids. Only Bothriocephalus sp.,
Proteocephalus ambloplitis, and Proteocephalus sp. were solely represented as immature
individuals, and these occurred in the intestine.
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