Salinity effects on anguillicolosis in Atlantic eels: a natural tool for disease control

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 471:193-202 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10032 Salinity effects on anguillicolosis in Atlantic eels: a natural tool for disease control François Lefebvre1,2, Alain J. Crivelli1,* 1Biological Station of the Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France 2Present address: 47 rue des Trois, 86000 Poitiers, France *Corresponding author. Email: a.crivelli@tourduvalat.org ABSTRACT: Anguillicolosis, the disease caused by the invasive nematode Anguillicoloides crassus, is one of the many threats facing the already endangered Atlantic eel species. We conducted a systematic review of literature data linking water salinity and prevalence of the infection during the continental phase of Anguilla anguilla and A. rostrata. Overall, we showed a significant negative relationship across all sites (rS = −0.42, n = 77). In order to limit the effect of confounding factors (e.g. variable latitudes and parasite introduction dates), we performed a meta-analysis on the correlation coefficients calculated from data within studies (restricted period and area) and revealed a stronger negative relationship (r̄ = −0.75, n = 13). Finally, using our long-term monitoring in a French Mediterranean lagoon, we documented a step decrease in both parasite prevalence and induced swimbladder pathologies in response to increased salinity values. Salinity effects manifested with an apparent threshold value around 15‰ and are readily appreciable in young-of-the-year eels. To date, managing around water salinity parameters remains one of the best options to control the ever-expanding infection (both in aquaculture and in the wild) and to improve the quality of future spawners en route to the Sargasso Sea. KEY WORDS: Anguilla spp. · Anguillicoloides crassus · Epizootic · Nematode · Parasitic invader · Catadromy · Salt water · Aquaculture · Habitat management Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Lefebvre F, Crivelli AJ (2012) Salinity effects on anguillicolosis in Atlantic eels: a natural tool for disease control. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 471:193-202. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10032 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 471. Online publication date: December 19, 2012 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.