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Branchiobdellidan infestation on endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in the UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2012

P. J. ROSEWARNE ,
R. J. G. MORTIMER  and
A. M. DUNN
P. J. ROSEWARNE
Affiliation:
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
R. J. G. MORTIMER
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
A. M. DUNN*
Affiliation:
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Tel: +44 (0)113 3432856. Fax +44 (0)113 3432835. E-mail: a.dunn@leeds.ac.uk
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Summary

Branchiobdellidans or crayfish worms are clitellate annelids and ectosymbionts of freshwater crayfish. An investigation of branchiobdellidan infestation was undertaken in a population of endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in the river Aire, UK. Thirty two percent of animals were infested either by the adult parasite or their cocoons (n=107). Parasite burden increased with host size, but did not differ with sex. Observations of crayfish gill tissue revealed a strong positive relationship between melanization of filaments and parasite prevalence and burden. Taxonomic identification revealed that 1 species of branchiobdellidan was present, Branchiobdella astaci. The first sequences were generated for this species and phylogenetically analysed alongside published sequences for 5 other branchiobdellidan species in Europe. The position of B. astaci within the genus Branchiobdella was confirmed, and it was found to cluster as a sister group to B. parasita.

Keywords

Austropotamobius pallipesBranchiobdella astacigill melanizationcrayfish parasite
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 139 , Issue 6 , May 2012 , pp. 774 - 780
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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