Observations on Transmission of Diphyllobothrium sp. (Cestoda) to Lake Trout in Algonquin Park, Canada

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Abstract
Even extensive consumption of plankton by lake trout in Algonquin Park does not always lead to infections with plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium sp. Evidence relating to the feeding habits of these fish and the transmission of diphyllobothriid plerocercoids is discussed. Heavier infections in lake trout from certain lakes appear to be related to foraging on the less desirable fish that are available, whereas infections are rare in other lakes containing preferred prey such as perch or cisco, in spite of the fact that in both types of lakes there may be high levels of plankton consumption during the summer. It is suggested that a suitable species of first fish host probably accounts for much of the higher levels of infection in lake trout in some lakes, although direct transmission from copepods to lake trout may account for the more sparse infections in other lakes.