Associations between fish reproductive cycle and the dynamics of metazoan parasite infection

ŠIMKOVÁ, Andrea, Jiří JARKOVSKÝ, Božena KOUBKOVÁ, Vlastimil BARUŠ and Miroslav PROKEŠ. Associations between fish reproductive cycle and the dynamics of metazoan parasite infection. Parasitology Research. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2005, vol. 95, No 1, p. 65-72. ISSN 0932-0113.

Basic information

• Original name: Associations between fish reproductive cycle and the dynamics of metazoan parasite infection
• Name in Czech: Asociácie medzi reprodukčným cyklom rýb a dynamikou infekcie mnohobunkových parazitami
• Authors: ŠIMKOVÁ, Andrea (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Jiří JARKOVSKÝ (203 Czech Republic), Božena KOUBKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic), Vlastimil BARUŠ (203 Czech Republic) and Miroslav PROKEŠ (203 Czech Republic).
• Edition: Parasitology Research, Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag, 2005, 0932-0113.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10600 1.6 Biological sciences
• Country of publisher: Germany
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 1.226
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/05:00012345
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• UT WoS: 000225907300013
• Keywords in English: reproductive cycle of fish; metazoan parasite; associations
• Tags: Associations, metazoan parasite, reproductive cycle of fish
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The parasite fauna of the stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) was investigated monthly from May to December 2001. Four parasite species were recorded: Gyrodactylus spp. (Monogenea), Tylodelphys clavata (Digenea), Proteocephalus sagittus (Cestoda), and Raphidascaris acus (Nematoda). The changes in the seasonal dynamics of parasite infection were investigated throughout the 8 months. The potential effect of the reproductive investment of the host, measured by gonad mass and gonado-somatic index (GSI), on the parasite infection was tested against the prediction that, during periods of high reproductive investment (beginning of the breeding period or forming gonads after breeding), fish are more susceptible to parasite infection. Differences between parasite loads between genders were also hypothesized. Seasonal differences in infection were observed for all parasite species studied. The values of GSI showed a pattern of energy accumulation in the pre-reproductive period and at the beginning of breeding, a decrease during breeding, and an increase in the post-breeding period. A similar pattern was observed for parasite abundance, a strong or weak increase in spring and/or autumn and a decrease during summer (July and August). Positive correlations between the abundance of Gyrodactylus spp. and R. acus and both gonad mass and GSI were found in females after eliminating the effect of fish weight. Our results suggest that stone loach females are more susceptible to parasite infection in periods of higher reproductive investment. The main factor determining the infection of T. clavata was fish size. The abundance of P. sagittus was positively correlated with GSI in the total fish sample with no detectable effect of sex or fish weight.

Abstract (in Czech)

Parazitická fauna mřenky mramorované (Barbatula barbatula) bola študovaná mesačne od mája do decembra 2001. Štyri druhy parazitov boli zaznamenané: Gyrodactylus spp. (Monogenea), Tylodelphys clavata (Digenea), Proteocephalus sagittus (Cestoda), a Raphidascaris acus (Nematoda). Zmeny v sezónnej dynamike parazitárnej infekcie boli sledované v priebehu 8 mesiacov. Potenciálny efekt reprodukčnej investície hostiteľa, meranej hmotnosťou gonád a gonad-somatickým indexom (GSI), na parazitickú infekciu bol testovaný podľa predpokladu, že v období vyššej reprodukčnej investície (začiatok rozmnožovania alebo novoformovanie gonád po reprodukcii), sú rybi jedinci viac citliví k parazitárnej infekcii. Testované boli aj rozdiely v parazitickom zatažení medzi pohlaviami. Sezónne rozdiely v infekcii boli pozorované u všetkých študovaných parazitov. Hodnoty GSI ukazovali na akumuláciu energie v prereprodukčnej perióde a na začiatku rozmnožovania, pokles v priebehu rozmnožovania, a zvyšovanie v postreprodukčnej perióde. Podobný vzťah bol zaznamenaný pre parazitickú abundanciu, tj. výrazný alebo mierny nárast na jar a/alebo v jeseň a pokles v priebehu leta (júl a august). Pozitívne korelácie medzi abundanciou Gyrodactylus spp. a R. acus a oboma hmotnosťou gonád a GSI boli nájdené u samíc po korekcii efektu hmotnosti tela. Výsledky naznačujú, že samice mřenky mramorované sú viac citlivé k parazitárnej infekcii v období vyššej reprodukčnej investície. Hlavný faktor determinujúci infekciu T. clavata bola veľkosť ryby. Abundancia P. sagittus pozitívne korelovala s GSI v celkovej vzorke rýb bez efektu pohlavia a hmotnosti.

Links

• GP524/03/P108, research and development project: Name: Evolučně-ekologické aspekty v systému parazit-hostitel

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Evolutionary and ecological aspects in parasite-host system

• IAA6093104, research and development project: Name: Ekologické parametry populací mřenky mramorované (Barbatula barbatula), jako determinanty jejího metazoárního parazitického společenstva

Investor: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ecological parameters of the stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) as determinants of its metazoan parasites' communities

• MSM 143100010, plan (intention): Name: Časoprostorová dynamika biodiverzity v ekosystémech střední Evropy.

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Spatiotemporal biodiversity dynamics in ecosystems of Central Europe

• MSM0021622416, plan (intention): Name: Diverzita biotických společenstev a populací: kauzální analýza variability v prostoru a čase

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Diversity of Biotic Communities and Populations: Causal Analysis of variation in space and time