Branchiobdellidan infestation on endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in the UK.
Branchiobdellidans or crayfish worms are clitellate annelids and ectosymbionts of freshwater crayfish. An investigation of branchiobdellidan infestation was undertaken in a population of endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in the river Aire, UK. Thirty two percent of animals were infested either by the adult parasite or their cocoons (n=107). Parasite burden increased with host size, but did not differ with sex. Observations of crayfish gill tissue revealed a strong positive relationship between melanization of filaments and parasite prevalence and burden. Taxonomic identification revealed that 1 species of branchiobdellidan was present, Branchiobdella astaci. The first sequences were generated for this species and phylogenetically analysed alongside published sequences for 5 other branchiobdellidan species in Europe. The position of B. astaci within the genus Branchiobdella was confirmed, and it was found to cluster as a sister group to B. parasita.
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
P J
PJ
Rosewarne
R J G
RJ
Mortimer
A M
AM
Dunn
D000818:Animals; D000845:Annelida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D008543:Melanins