Distribution of helminths in the digestive tracts of New Zealand freshwater eels

Abstract

The distributions of the nematode parasites Paraquimperia sp., Spirocamallanus sp., and Cucullanus sp. in the intestines and recta of Anguilla dieffenbachii and A. australis from Lake Ellesmere and the South Branch of the Waimakariri River were studied over two years. Peak occurrence of Paraquimperia was in the anterior intestine of A. australis and mid intestine of A. dieffenbachii. Male and female Spirocamallanus sp. established in the mid intestine, but as female worms grew they attached more anteriorly and thus maintained the mid body in the mid intestine, prevented the tail end entering the rectum, and maintained the vulvae close to male worms. Cucullanus sp. was most often found in the mid intestine, but occurred throughout the intestine, possibly because of migration with food. Paraquimperia and Spirocamallanus extended their range with crowding; Cucullanus increased in density in the mid intestine. Posteriad movement, with or without subsequent evacuation, was a general feature of all species in both hosts, held live or examined after death. Chilling and freezing slowed or arrested loss from dead hosts. Larger worms (Spirocamallanus sp.) moved and were lost more rapidly than small worms (Paraquimperia sp.); worm loss was more rapid from A. dieffenbachii than from A. australis.