Leszek Rolbiecki
ABSTRACT. Anguillicoloides crassus is a pathogenic nematode of the swim bladders of eel. This nematode was introduced from east Asia to Europe in the early 1980s. In Europe, A. crassus occurred to be a typical invasive species that rapidly attacked cultivated and natural European eel populations. The study material comprised 28, 23, 15, and 7 swim bladders collected from eels during the 2005-2008 period from lakes Żarnowieckie, Ostrzyckie, Raduńskie (Dolne and Górne), and the Vistula River, respectively. Additionally, two dead eels were obtained from Lake Żarnowieckie. The rate of infection in European eels from lakes Żarnowieckie, Ostrzyckie, Raduńskie (Dolne and Górne), and the Vistula River were prevalence 50.0%, mean intensity 3.8; 65.2%, 5.5; 40.0%, 3.0, and 28.6%, 5.0, respectively. Among the 165 nematodes collected, adult females dominated (96 specimens) in comparison to adult males (64), and IV stage larvae (5). The following were found in the two dead eels: 1 adult female, 2 adult males, and 4 adult females, 2 adult males, and 1 third stage larval A. crassus, respectively. This is the first record of A. crassus in the European eels from lakes Żarnowieckie, Ostrzyckie, Raduńskie (Dolne and Górne), and the Vistula River. Consequently, it must be concluded that A. crassus is increasing its range of occurrence in Poland. It is highly probable, however, that the area of occurrence of this nematode in Poland corresponds to the distribution of its final host – the eel.
Keywords: Anguillicoloides crassus, nematode, European eel, Lake Żarnowieckie, Lake Ostrzyckie, Lakes Raduńskie Dolne and Górne, Vistula River, Poland
Przyjęto po recenzji 5.08.2011 r.