Distribution des populations d'Artemia et de leur parasite Flamingolepis liguloides (Cestode, Cyclophyllidea), dans les salins du littoral méditerranéen français

Abstract

The occurrence of the cysticercoïd stage of the bird tapeworm Flamingolepis liguloïdes (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea) was studied across the salt marshes of the French Mediterranean coast. It was observed in 11 populations of the intermediate host Artemia (Crustacea, Anostraca) and investigated. A relationship between the prevalence of the parasite in Artemia and the population density of flamingoes on the sites studied is shown by the results. Parasitism in the infected host populations increases with the size of Artemia. Cysticercoïds are found in the thorax of juvenile Artemia, whereas they are packed in the abdomen in the adults. During growth of Artemia, the localisation of parasites is related to allometric changes in the thorax/abdomen proportion. In infected populations, up to 22.8% of Artemia are red coloured and present an altered behaviour. These physiological and ethological changes are discussed in terms of adaptive strategy by the parasite.