EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF EUSTRONGYLIDES IGNOTUS IN FLORIDA: TRANSMISSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LARVAE IN INTERMEDIATE HOSTS

Under laboratory conditions, 2 modes of transmission of Eustrongylides ignotus (Nematoda: Dioctophymatoidea) to fish were identified. Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) became infected after ingestion of either eggs of E. ignotus containing first-stage larvae or aquatic oligochaetes (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) containing third-stage larvae of E. ignotus. After removal from the uterus of gravid E. ignotus females and incubation for 17-28 days, depending on temperature, it was found that parasite eggs contained first-stage larvae that were infective to fish and oligochaetes. Larvae developed to the third stage in oligochaetes and were infective to fish 35-77 days postinfection (PI) and when fed to fish, developed to the fourth stage between 127 and 184 days PI. Eggs containing first-stage larvae fed directly to fish developed to the fourth stage between 84 and 105 days PI. The amount of time for development from the undifferentiated egg to the fourth-stage larva was 78-156 days shorter when fish ingested eggs containing first-stage larvae than when fish ingested oligochaetes containing third-stage larvae. Three species of large piscivorous fish, including black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), were fed mosquitofish containing fourth-stage larvae. At necropsy, live E. ignotus larvae were recovered from all 3 species. Several fish had multiple infections after ingesting1 larva, indicating that bioaccumulation of the parasite in the food chain may occur.