Raphidascaris acus (Bloch, 1779) larvae infections of the stone loach, Barbatula barbatula (L.), from the River Haná, Czech Republic.

Abstract

The stone loach, Barbatula barbatula (L.), is a typical and dominant intermediate host of Raphidascaris acus in lowland streams of Central Europe. The prevalence of infection of R. acus in B. barbatula from the River Haná ranged throughout the year from 73.3 to 100%. The abundance and the mean intensity of infection also varied throughout the year with a peak in September. Larvae were located mainly in the liver parenchyma. High numbers of larvae and their migration through the tissue caused cyst- or abscess-like formations in the host parenchyma. The severity of the disease condition ranged from mild to severe. We speculate that the infection of stone loach by R. acus larvae regulates the population density and abundance of the intermediate host in lowland streams where natural predators are absent.