Helminths of Bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, from a Northern Indiana Pond

Abstract

Fifty bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, were collected in June and July 1997 from a small eutrophic pond in northern Indiana and examined for parasites. Two species of larval helminth were recovered, Posthodiplostomum minimum and Proteocephalus sp., as well as 2 species of adult enteric nematodes, Spinitectus carolini and Camallanus oxycephalus. Posthodiplostomum minimum exhibited the highest prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. Proteocephalus sp. exhibited the lowest prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. The two nematode species had high prevalences and similar mean intensities and mean abundances. The intensities of Po. minimum and S. carolini increased with total host length. There was no significant difference in prevalence, mean intensity, or mean abundance between sexes for any parasite species. This is the first report of these helminth species in bluegills from Indiana.