Biology of the Leech Actinobdella inequiannulata Moore, 1901 (Annelida: Hirudinea: Rhynchobdellida: Glossiphoniidae), Parasitic on the White Sucker, Catostomus commersoni Lacepède, 1803, and the Longnose Sucker, Catostomus catostomus Forster, 1773, in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Actinobdella inequiannulata was found on the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni, and less frequently on the longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus, in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Catostomus commersoni parasitized with Act. inequiannulata was collected from July to October 1973 and May to October 1974. In May and October, less than 3% of the fish carried leeches. In July, 80% of the fish were parasitized with an average of 1.5 leeches/fish. Observations on leech weight suggest that young leeches attach to fish from May to September, some mature in July, and a second generation of leeches reparasitize the fish in August and September. The mean size of leeches on suckers increased from May until July, after which the size remained relatively constant. Leeches produced characteristic lesions on the opercula of suckers. Fully developed lesions on fish opercula produced by aggregated leeches had varying amounts of central erosion, extravasation, dermal and epidermal hyperplasia, and necrosis.