The invasive parasitic copepod Lernaea cyprinacea: updated host-list and distribution, molecular identification and infection rates in Patagonia

María Waicheim

doi:10.3391/ai.2019.14.2.12

Abstract

The invasive parasitic copepod Lernaea cyprinacea: updated host-list and distribution, molecular identification and infection rates in Patagonia

Highlights

The introduction of non-native species is considered to be a major cause of biodiversity loss, mainly driven by competition and predation
Introductions can lead to novel host-parasite relationships changing community structures (Poulin 2017), as parasites can be co-introduced into new areas with a non-native host, and become a co-invasive parasite when it switches to native hosts (Lymbery et al 2014)
L. cyprinacea is found throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Southern Africa, and Australia (Avenant-Oldewage 2012)

Summary

Introduction

The introduction of non-native species is considered to be a major cause of biodiversity loss, mainly driven by competition and predation. The invasive parasitic copepod Lernaea cyprinacea in Patagonia the threat imposed by the co-introduction of parasites along with non-native hosts (Kelly et al 2009). Introductions can lead to novel host-parasite relationships changing community structures (Poulin 2017), as parasites can be co-introduced into new areas with a non-native host, and become a co-invasive parasite when it switches to native hosts (Lymbery et al 2014). The cosmopolitan copepod Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758, known as anchor worm, has been introduced to almost every continent along with cyprinids, and has been recorded in hundreds of freshwater fishes (Piasecki et al 2004; Poulin and Morand 2004; Avenant-Oldewage 2012; Sayyadzadeh et al 2016). The cyclopoid males and females are able to swim freely and, after mating, the males die while females attach permanently to the host, and undergo metamorphosis (Avenant-Oldewage 2012)

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Conclusion