Phenotypic variation in infectivity of Diplostomum spathaceum cercariae within a population.
The present study examined phenotypic variation in infectivity of Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) cercariae within a natural population. Twelve infected Lymnaea stagnalis were collected from the field, and the infectivity of cercariae from individual snails was assessed under constant laboratory conditions. At a water temperature of 16.3 C, the mean infectivity of cercariae from the snails varied between 55.5% and 87.5%. Depending on the source of variation, this may have important ecological and evolutionary implications for both natural parasite populations and those occurring in aquaculture.
Seppälä
O
O
Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. otto.seppaelae@eawag.ch
Karvonen
A
A
Valtonen
E T
ET
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000469:parasitology*; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000469:parasitology*; D010641:Phenotype; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*