First record of Nippotaenia mogurndae Yamaguti and Miyata, 1940 (Cestoda, Nippotaeniidae), a parasite introduced with Chinese sleeper to Poland

Abstract

A parasitological survey of an Asian fish, Chinese sleeper Perccottus glenii, inhabiting the Włocławek Reservoir on the lower Vistula River (central Poland) revealed the occurrence of an exotic cestode Nippotaenia mogurndae Yamaguti and Miyata, 1940, which spreads spontaneously with a host to European waters. This paper documented the first record of the parasite in Poland. Specimens were described, and the effect of fish size and season on the infection level was analyzed. Within the 3 years, 112 fish were examined. Samples were collected by electrofishing in the upper part of the Włocławek Reservoir three times (seasonally) in 2006 and 2007 and once in autumn 2008. Parasitological indices (prevalence, intensity of infection, and abundance) in particular samples as well as in two size groups of fish were calculated. Statistical tests were applied to analyze the results (Spearman's correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney's U test). The infection level of Chinese sleeper with N. mogurndae in the Włocławek Reservoir (prevalence 54.7%, mean intensity of infection 7.2, maximum 29) was comparable to infection noted in the area of the natural range of the host. The infection of smaller fish (less than 80 mm, TL) increased gradually with increasing body size. The infection of bigger specimens was in general higher, but the parasite recruitment was of a more incidental character. The spreading of N. mogurndae with Chinese sleeper is still in progress. The Włocławek Reservoir provides suitable conditions for parasite development.