Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Acanthocephalans, Cestodes, Leeches, & Pentastomes
Introduction
This publication is one in a series of pictorial guides that is designed to assist in the identification of common freshwater fish parasites. The publications included in this series are:
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Sessile Ciliates
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Motile Ciliates
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Dinoflagellates, Coccidia, Microsporidians, & Myxozoans
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Monogeneans
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Digenean Trematodes
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Nematodes
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Acanthocephalans, Cestodes, Leeches, & Pentastomes
- Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Crustaceans
The information provided in this guide is not intended to be a complete, detailed description of each parasite or parasite group and its characteristics but rather is intended to assist in the visual identification of some of the most common species or groups of parasites seen in freshwater fish. For further information on each parasite, refer to publications in the "Recommended Reading" and "Reference" sections below.
Guide Information
- Target Tissue: provides the location on/in the fish where the parasite is most commonly found.
- Characteristic: provides a brief description about the appearance of the parasite.
- Size: provides the size or size range of the parasite. (1 µm = 0.001 mm = 0.0001 cm) (µm = micron or micrometer; mm = millimeter; cm = centimeter)
- Movement: provides the type of movement, if any, of the parasite.
- Note: provides a brief comment of interest about the parasite.
Acanthocephalans, Cestodes, Leeches, & Pentastomes
Acanthocephalans ("Thorny-Headed Worms")
Target Tissues: Adults in gastrointestinal tract; larvae in mesentery, liver
Appearance: "Thorny head"; numerous chitinous hooks on proboscis
Size: Approx. 2–700 mm in length (average 10 mm in length)
Movement: Limited movement; can invert or extend proboscis
Note: Complex life cycle requires invertebrate host; proboscis imbeds into fish's intestine, which may cause severe damage to intestinal lining
Cestodes ("Tapeworms")
Target Tissues: Adults in gastrointestinal tract; larvae in any organ
Appearance: Larvae not segmented with scolex, usually encysted; adults segmented, flattened body with scolex (attachment organ);
Size: Adults approx. 3 mm up to 200 mm in length
Movement: Larvae may move within cyst; limited movement in adults
Note: Fish can be final host (with adult tapeworm) or intermediate host (with juvenile plerocercoid larvae)
Leeches
Target Tissues: Skin, gills, oral cavity
Appearance: Body segmented; anterior and posterior suckers
Size: Up to 5 cm in length; can be see with unaided eye
Movement: Free-moving; worm-like movement; fixed when feeding
Note: Parasitic on host's blood—can cause anemia and may act as disease vector because they suck body fluid; direct life cycle
Pentastomes
Target Tissues: Muscle, body cavity; internal organs
Appearance: Coiled, stout, segmented worms
Size: Approx. 3–10 mm in total length
Movement: Not free-moving; may see internal organs of parasite "pulse"
Note: Indirect life cycle which includes aquatic reptiles (turtles, snakes, alligators) as final host
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Lester Khoo for the photograph he contributed to this publication.
Recommended Reading
UF/IFAS Circular 91 Nematode (Roundworm) Infections in Fish. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA091
UF/IFAS Circular 120 Fish Health Management Considerations in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems - Part 1: Introduction and General Principles. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA099
UF/IFAS Circular 121 Fish Health Management Considerations in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems - Part 2: Pathogens. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA100
UF/IFAS Circular 122 Fish Health Management Considerations in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems - Part 3: General Recommendations and Problem Solving Approaches. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA101
UF/IFAS Circular 920 Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (White Spot) Infections in Fish. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA006
UF/IFAS Circular 921 Introduction to Fish Health Management. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA004
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-13 Use of Copper in Freshwater Aquaculture and Farm Ponds. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA008
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-90 Pentastomid Infections in Fish. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA090
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-107 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Sessile Ciliates. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA107
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-108 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Motile Ciliates. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA108
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-109 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Flagellates. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA109
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-110 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Dinoflagellates, Coccidia, Microsporidians, and Myxozoans. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA110
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-111 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Monogeneans. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA111
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-112 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Digenean Trematodes. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA112
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-113 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Nematodes. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA113
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet FA-115 Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Crustaceans. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA115
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet VM-104 Cryptobia iubilans in Cichlids. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM077
References
Hoffman, G. L. 1999. Parasites of North American Freshwater Fishes. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Longshaw, M., and S. W. Feist. 2001. Parasitic Diseases. Pages 167–183 in W.H. Wildgoose, editor. BSAVA manual of ornamental fish, second edition. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, England.
Noga, E. J. 1996. Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment. St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Yearbook, Inc.
Stoskopf, M. K. 1993. Fish Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.
Woo, P. T. K., editor. 1995. Fish Diseases and Disorders, volume 1: protozoan and metazoan infections. CAB International, Wallingford, United Kingdom.