Folia Parasitologica 49[2] 118-126 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.022

Development of Spinitectus inermis (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae), a parasite of eel, Anguilla anguilla, in Europe

Aurélia Saraiva¹, František Moravec², Anabela Pereira¹, Cristina Cruz¹

¹ Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal

² Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

The development of the nematode Spinitectus inermis (Zeder, 1800), a parasite of the stomach of eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.) in Europe, was experimentally studied. Mayfly nymphs Caenis macrura, Ecdyonurus dispar, Heptagenia sulphurea, Potamanthus luteus and Seratella ignita from Portugal and the Czech Republic were found to serve as experimental intermediate hosts. After ingestion of the nematode eggs by the mayfly nymphs, the toothed first-stage larvae were released and penetrated into the body cavity of the intermediate host. There they moulted twice (on day 4 and 6 post infection [p.i.] at water temperatures of 20-25°C), attaining the third infective stage. The definitive host, A. anguilla, undoubtedly acquires infection by feeding on mayfly nymphs harbouring infective-stage larvae. In an experimentally infected eel, the fourth-stage larva undergoing the third moult was observed 28 days p.i. at water temperature of 20ºC. The larval stages, including moulting forms, are described and illustrated. The prepatent period of S. inermis is estimated to be about two months.

Keywords: Nematoda, Spinitectus inermis, eel, Anguilla anguilla, Ephemeroptera, intermediate host, Portugal, Czech Republic

Received: February 6, 2001; Accepted: September 6, 2001; Published: June 1, 2002  Show citation