Abstract
Ictalurus punctatus, more commonly known as the Channel Catfish, is common throughout the Savannah River Basin. Fifteen specimens were captured by hook and line from the Little River in McCormick County, South Carolina. The gills and viscera were examined for metazoan parasites and prevalence and mean intensity were computed. The monogenean Ligictaluridus pricei and the copepod Ergasilus arthrosis were recovered from the gills. Two digenetic trematodes (Megalonia ictaluri and Alloglossidium corti), one tapeworm (Corallobothrium fimbriatum), two nematodes (Camallanus oxycephalus and Spinitectus carolini) and one acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus) were recovered from the gastrointestinal tract. The four most frequently encountered parasites were Ligictaluridus pricei, Megalonia ictaluri, Corallobothrium fimbriatum, Ergasilus arthrosis. L. pricei and M. ictaluri are restricted to catfish and C. fimbriatum and E. arthrosis commonly infect catfish. Whereas the other four species are ubiquitous parasites of freshwater fish.
Keywords
Ictalurus punctatus, channel catfish, parasite, Savannah River Basin, McCormick County
Included in
BEC-1 Survey of parasites in Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) of the Savannah River Basin at Little River in McCormick, South Carolina
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Ictalurus punctatus, more commonly known as the Channel Catfish, is common throughout the Savannah River Basin. Fifteen specimens were captured by hook and line from the Little River in McCormick County, South Carolina. The gills and viscera were examined for metazoan parasites and prevalence and mean intensity were computed. The monogenean Ligictaluridus pricei and the copepod Ergasilus arthrosis were recovered from the gills. Two digenetic trematodes (Megalonia ictaluri and Alloglossidium corti), one tapeworm (Corallobothrium fimbriatum), two nematodes (Camallanus oxycephalus and Spinitectus carolini) and one acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus) were recovered from the gastrointestinal tract. The four most frequently encountered parasites were Ligictaluridus pricei, Megalonia ictaluri, Corallobothrium fimbriatum, Ergasilus arthrosis. L. pricei and M. ictaluri are restricted to catfish and C. fimbriatum and E. arthrosis commonly infect catfish. Whereas the other four species are ubiquitous parasites of freshwater fish.