Parasite identification, succession and infection pathways in perch fry (Perca fluviatilis): new insights through a combined morphological and genetic approach.

摘要: Identification of parasite species is particularly challenging in larval and juvenile hosts, this hampers the understanding acquisition early life. The work described here employs a new combination methods to identify study succession fry perch (Perca fluviatilis) from Lake Constance, Germany. Classical morphological diagnostics are combined with sequence comparisons between life-stages collected various hosts within same ecosystem. In at different stages development, 13 were found. Incomplete identifications cestodes order Proteocephalidea, trematodes family Diplostomatidae complemented sequences mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome oxidase 1) and/or nuclear (28 s rDNA) genes. Sequences compared published data used link parasites molluscs, arthropods more easily identifiable developmental other fishes which both aided identification clarified transmission pathways. There distinct changes community composition abundance associated age habitat shifts. Some became abundant older fish, whereas communities was strongly affected by ontogenetic shifts pelagic littoral zone.