title: Natural Anguillicola novaezelandiae infection--is there seasonality in New Zealand?
abstract: Knowledge of natural Anguillicola infections of Short-finned eels (Anguilla australis) in New Zealand is very limited. So far, no study contains data on all life cycle stages of Anguillicola novaezelandiae in naturally infected eels. In order to study the frequency of A. novaezelandiae in New Zealand Short-finned eels, we examined eels of the North and the South Island for the presence of the swim bladder parasite. The results show that A. novaezelandiae is a common parasite of the Short-finned eel. The parasite was present in both regions. Eels from both localities show differences in their infection status with respect to prevalence, abundance and intensity. While eels of the South Island were only infected with larval stages, adult and preadult stages could be detected in eels of the North Island. Nevertheless, infrapopulations at both sites were dominated by larval parasite stages. This unique composition of infrapopulations has never been described for any Anguillicola species before and suggests a seasonal occurrence as a possible reason. Export of live eels should be handled cautiously to prevent the spread of A. novaezelandiae throughout other eel populations.
authors: Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 5, 45141, Essen, Germany. kerstin.dangel@uni-due.de
authors: K C
authors: KC
authors: Dangel
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Sures
mesh_terms: D000811:Anguilla; D000818:Animals; D017176:Dracunculoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D059208:Parasite Load; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019371:Topography, Medical
references: J Fish Dis. 2007 Jun;30(6):319-34
references: 17498176
references: BMC Evol Biol. 2012 May 04;12:60
references: 22559142
references: Folia Parasitol (Praha). 1994;41(3):203-8
references: 7883252
references: Parasit Vectors. 2012 Oct 30;5:244
references: 23111012
references: Dis Aquat Organ. 1998 Mar 5;32(2):137-43
references: 9676253
references: Mol Ecol. 2008 Aug;17(15):3478-95
references: 18727770
references: Science. 2004 Apr 9;304(5668):209-11
references: 15073357
references: J Parasitol. 1997 Aug;83(4):575-83
references: 9267395
references: Anal Biochem. 1987 May 1;162(2):463-5
references: 3037944
references: Science. 2003 Oct 10;302(5643):221-2
references: 14551417
references: Parasitology. 2001 Aug;123(Pt 2):185-91
references: 11510684
references: Parasitology. 1995;111 Suppl:S111-27
references: 8632918
references: Parasitology. 1999 Sep;119 ( Pt 3):323-30
references: 10503258
references: Dis Aquat Organ. 2006 Jul 25;71(2):101-8
references: 16956057
references: Mol Mar Biol Biotechnol. 1994 Oct;3(5):294-9
references: 7881515
references: Parassitologia. 1982 Dec;24(2-3):139-44
references: 6926929
references: Folia Parasitol (Praha). 1988;35(2):125-46
references: 3169643
references: Dis Aquat Organ. 2005 Feb 28;63(2-3):185-95
references: 15819434