Seasonal incidence and development of the cestodeCaryophyllaeus laticeps(Pallas) in the River Avon

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Abstract
An account is given of the seasonal occurrence, maturation and population changes ofCaryophyllaeus laticepsin its intermediate hostPsammoryctes barbatusand in its definitive hostLeuciscus leuciscusin the River Avon. Infective larvae were found in the tubificid in all months except August, but occurrence and maturation ofC. laticepsin fish showed a clear seasonal periodicity. Infections were acquired between December and March, the parasite matured in April and May and disappeared by July. Maturation ofC. laticepsappeared to be governed by changes in fish hormone levels. Changes in the parasite population in fish bore no relationship to the availability of infective larvae nor probably to the feeding behaviour of fish but were closely correlated with water temperature changes. The most important factor controlling the dynamics of theC. laticeps–dacesystem appears to be a temperature dependent rejection response to the parasites by dace, and it is suggested that a similar mechanism may operate to control the dynamics of other freshwater fish–tapeworm systems.I should like to thank the Avon and Dorset River Authority, and in particular Mr A. S. Grater, for their help in capturing the fish and for their ready co-operation.

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