POPULATION DYNAMICS OF PHILURETER TRIGONIOPSIS (MONOGENEA: ANCYROCEPHALINAE) FROM URINARY ORGANS OF GALAXIAS MACULATUS (OSMERIFORMES: GALAXIIDAE) IN A COLD TEMPERATE ANDEAN PATAGONIAN LAKE (ARGENTINA)

Abstract

Philureter trigoniopsis parasitizes the ureters and urinary bladder of Galaxias maculatus in Patagonian Andean lakes. To investigate factors associated with variation in the prevalence and intensity of this monogenean, fish were sampled periodically over 2 yr in Lake Gutiérrez. Prevalence and mean intensity are higher in smaller fishes than in larger ones. A seasonal pattern was observed, with peak recruitment and peak mean intensity occurring in early spring (September), followed by lows in late summer (January-February). Galaxias maculatus length classes are spatially segregated due to seasonal migrations, so the annual infection cycle is characterized by higher prevalence and intensity from late winter to early summer in the smaller fish from the deep zone of the lake.