Metazoan parasites as indicators of movements of anadromous brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) to sea

Abstract

Changes in the numbers of metazoan parasites of anadromous brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, during the summer 1980 were determined by examining 220 fish at different times and localities in the Moisie River, Quebec. The marine trematode Brachyphallus crenatus remained in brook charr during their movements into fresh water. Differences in the prevalence of this parasite between sampling localities in late July indicated that some charr which undergo smoltification do not go to sea although others do. Also, infection with B. crenatus enabled an estimate to be made of the percentage of charr that had been to sea entering a tributary in late August. Brook charr were also infected with Crepidostomum cooperi, Diplostomum spathaceum, Eubothrium salvelini, Proteocephalus sp., Metechinorhynchus lateralis, Echinorhynchus gadi complex, Cystidicoloides tenuissima, Hysterothylacium sp., Anisakis simplex, Acuarioidea: Seuratiinae gen. sp., Salmincola edwardsii, and glochidia larvae.