Parasites of sticklebacks (Actinopterygii: Gasterosteidae) from South-Eastern Baltic Sea (Poland).

Abstract

A total of 142 individuals of Gasterosteus aculeatus L. and 22 individuals of Pungitius pungitius (L.) from several areas of the coastal waters of the Gdańsk Bay both brackish- and freshwater were examined for parasites. The survey was carried out within 1988-1991. Six parasite species, namely: Gyrodactylus arcuatus, Apatemon gracilis, Sphaerostomum bramae, Phyllodistomumfolium, Neoechinorhynchus rutili, and Argulus foliaceus were recovered from sticklebacks caught in freshwater habitats; while the other 4 parasites: Apatemon annuligerum, Bothriocephalus sp., Schistocephalus solidus, Proteocephalus percae occurred only in fish from brackish-water areas. Additional 5 parasites: Trichodina domerguei, Diplostomum pungitii, Diplostomum spathaceum, Rhaphidascaris acus, and Thersitina gasterostei were recorded in fishes from both habitats.