Effects of the Trematode Uvulifer ambloplitis on Juvenile Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus: Ecological Implications

Lemly, A. Dennis; Esch, Gerald W.

doi:10.2307/3281395

Cited by 151 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Other freshwater fish species show increased mortality when infected with neascus-type metacercariae, possibly due to increased predation susceptibility (Esox lucius, Harrison and Hadley 1982; Chasmistes brevirostris, Markle et al 2014). Reported sub-lethal impacts of neascus-type infection vary greatly from no effect on salmonid metabolism and growth (Ferguson et al 2012) to significant weight loss at high levels of parasite load in Centrarchids (e.g., Micropterus dolomieu, Hunter and Hamilton 1941; Lepomis macrochirus, Lemly and Esch 1984). In our study, heavily parasitized steelhead felt rough to the touch (CJS, personal observation), suggesting a possible loss of streamlining and increased swimming burden.…”

Section: Water Temperature and Trematode Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Black spot infection in juvenile steelhead trout increases with stream temperature in northern California

et al. 2017

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Climate change will increase water temperature in rivers and streams that provide critical habitat for imperiled species. Warmer water temperatures will influence the intensity and nature of biotic interactions, including parasitism. To better understand the factors influencing a neascus-type parasitic infection known as black spot disease, we examined the relationship between infection rate in juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), abundance of another intermediate host (ramshorn snail, Planorbella trivolvis), and water temperature. We quantified infection patterns of trout at seven sites within the South Fork Eel River in northern California, visiting each site on three different occasions across the summer, and recording water temperature at each site. We also quantified infection patterns in trout captured from two tributaries to the South Fork Eel River. Overall, trout infection rates were highest in sites with the warmest temperatures. The abundance of ramshorn snails was positively related to both water temperature and black spot infection rates in juvenile trout. Both snail abundance and infection rates increased rapidly above a 23°C daily maximum, suggesting a threshold effect at this temperature. We suggest that warmer temperatures are associated with environmental and biotic conditions that increase black spot disease prevalence in threatened steelhead trout. A comparison of our results with similar data collected from a more northern latitude suggests that salmonids in California may be warm-adapted in terms of their parasite susceptibility.

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Section: Water Temperature and Trematode Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Black spot infection in juvenile steelhead trout increases with stream temperature in northern California

et al. 2017

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“…Other studies have described a similarly high prevalence (e.g. Evans & Mackiewicz 1958, Lemly 1980, Lemly & Esch 1984, Ferrara & Cook 1998. Although prevalence of infection in one species can be high, it can be variable among species in the same system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, some studies have indicated that black spot agents can result in reduced survival, growth, and health of fishes in natural systems. For instance, Lemly & Esch (1984) found that bluegills Lepomis macrochirus infected with Uvulifer ambloplites had reduced lipid concentrations and lower body condition relative to those without infection, resulting in higher overwintering mortality of infected fish compared with that of non-infected fish in a North Carolina pond. Harrison & Hadley (1982) suggested that reduced growth and survival of northern pike Esox lucius in the Niagara River, New York, resulted from black spot infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evans & Mackiewicz 1958, Steedman 1991, catostomids in Muddy Creek may be experiencing more physiologic stress due to environmental characteristics (e.g. Lemly & Esch 1984, Steedman 1991. Moreover, different species of diplostomoids producing black spot surely have different host specificities, and all the cited references were not focusing on the same species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hoffman 1956, Lemly & Esch 1984 or reduce the growth and body condition of some species (e.g. Hunter & Hunter 1938, Lemly & Esch 1984. Black spot condition among wild fish is usually considered relatively benign (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Infection by a black spot-causing species of Uvulifer and associated opercular alterations in fishes from a high-desert stream in Wyoming

Quist

Bower²,

Hubert³

2007

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Black spot is a common disease syndrome of freshwater fishes. This study provides information on the rank of density of the black spot agent and opercular bone alterations associated with at least one digenean, Uvulifer sp., infecting native and non-native catostomids and cyprinids of the Upper Colorado River Basin. We evaluated the density rank of pigmented metacercariae and associated alterations in the operculum of the bluehead sucker Catostomus discobolus, flannelmouth sucker C. latipinnis, white sucker C. commersoni, catostomid hybrids, roundtail chub Gila robusta, and creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, sampled from Muddy Creek, Wyoming, USA in 2003 or 2004. All fish species contained individuals that exhibited gross signs of the black spot agent. Bluehead and flannelmouth suckers had 100% prevalence of infection. Although the other suckers and chubs contained encysted metacercariae in at least one individual, the presence of pigmented metacercariae was not apparent (i.e. based on gross observations) in many individuals. Catostomids had higher densities of metacercariae than cyprinids, as shown by frequency distributions of density ranks. Opercular holes (i.e. holes that completely penetrated the opercle and were in direct association with the pigment associated metacercariae) and pockets (depressions on the external surface of the opercle associated with metacercariae) were abundant among catostomids but rare among cyprinids.KEY WORDS: Black spot disease · Uvulifer sp. · Opercular lesions · Colorado River · Native fish Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 78: [129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136] 2007 mediate host snail and transforms into sporocysts, which in turn produce free-swimming cercariae. Infection occurs when a fish encounters cercariae that penetrate its integument and develop into encysted metacercariae, and the worm undergoes development in the fish before it will mature in the appropriate avian final host. Encysted metacercariae of some species can survive more than 4.5 yr in a fish (Hoffman & Putz 1965). The characteristic black spot is the result of the fish forming a capsule of connective tissue containing melanophores around the encysted metacercaria (Davis 1967, Berra & Au 1978.Many researchers have investigated the effects of encysted metacercariae on fishes, but results have been inconsistent. In the laboratory, heavy infections have been shown to be fatal or to reduce growth in some cases (Hunter & Hunter 1938, Hoffman 1956, Lemly & Esch 1984. In natural systems, results are more variable with some studies showing deleterious effects from heavy infections by black spot agents (Harrison & Hadley 1982, Lemly & Esch 1984, whereas others show little or no effect from the parasite (e.g. Vinikour 1977, Baker & Bulow 1985.During studies of the ecology of fishes in Muddy Creek, Wyoming, we observed the widespread prevalence of metacercariae, with apparent different densities per infected individual among fish species. We ...

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The Strigeids

2015

Ecological Parasitology

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Effects of the Trematode Uvulifer ambloplitis on Juvenile Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus: Ecological Implications

Cited by 151 publications

References 23 publications

Black spot infection in juvenile steelhead trout increases with stream temperature in northern California

Black spot infection in juvenile steelhead trout increases with stream temperature in northern California

Infection by a black spot-causing species of Uvulifer and associated opercular alterations in fishes from a high-desert stream in Wyoming

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