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Metamicrocotyla macracantha, a polyopisthocotylid gill parasite of the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus: population dynamics in South Carolina estuaries

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Abstract

In the estuarine system of South Carolina (USA), the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, was found to be parasitized by the polyopisthocotylid monogenean Metamicrocotyla macracantha among other gill parasites. Mullet of various ages were collected monthly for 1 year from oligohaline, mesohaline, polyhaline, and euryhaline localities. The population dynamics of M. macracantha was analyzed according to time of year, different salinity levels, and host age and sex. Out of the 770 mullet studied, 11.2% were infected (mean, two worms per host). Neither prevalence nor mean intensity was correlated with biotic factors. However, significant seasonal variation in prevalence was observed, and the worm was found more frequently in higher salinities. Mean intensity, however, did not change significantly with time of year or salinity. This is the first published report of M. macracantha in the South Carolina estuarine system and represents the northernmost record for this parasite. Furthermore, the lack of common egg-bearing individuals and juveniles indicated that this area is likely the northern limit of the geographical range of M. macracantha, whose life cycle seems restricted to more constant water temperatures than those found at the South Carolina latitudes.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Inshore Fisheries Division of the Marine Resources Research Institute for providing the mullet as well as the biotic and abiotic data used in this study. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments to improve this manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Tiffany G. Baker

    Present address: College of Graduate Studies, 173 Ashley Avenue, 102 BSB, P.O. Box 250501, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

  2. Eric Pante

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Charleston, 58 Coming Street, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA

    Tiffany G. Baker, Eric Pante & Isaure de Buron

  2. Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 12559, Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29422, USA

    Erin M. Levesque & William A. Roumillat

Authors
  1. Tiffany G. Baker
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  2. Eric Pante
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  3. Erin M. Levesque
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  4. William A. Roumillat
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  5. Isaure de Buron
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Correspondence to Isaure de Buron.

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Baker, T.G., Pante, E., Levesque, E.M. et al. Metamicrocotyla macracantha, a polyopisthocotylid gill parasite of the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus: population dynamics in South Carolina estuaries. Parasitol Res 102, 1085–1088 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-0920-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-0920-9

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