title: Anguillicola crassus infection in Anguilla rostrata from small tributaries of the Hudson River watershed, New York, USA.
abstract: We studied the invasion of the exotic nematode parasite Anguillicola crassus in the American eel Anguilla rostrata using tributaries of the Hudson River estuary. Yellow-phase American eels were sampled from 6 tributaries, and their swim bladders were examined for nematode infection. Prevalence averaged 39% with an intensity of 2.4 nematodes per eel. Parasite distribution was not significant along a latitudinal gradient; on the other hand, physical barriers (dams and natural waterfalls) significantly reduced infections upstream. Urbanization may increase the susceptibility of eels to infection; we found significantly elevated infection rates when urbanized lands exceeded 15% of the tributary catchment area. Yellow-phase eel condition was not affected by parasite infection. The invasion of the entire Hudson River watershed is ongoing and therefore will continue to be a management concern. Further analysis of the parasite-host interaction in North America is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA. lmachut@usgs.gov
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Machut
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Limburg
mesh_terms: D000400:Air Sacs / Q000469:parasitology; D000811:Anguilla / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers; D017174:Spirurida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014507:Urbanization