Evaluation of fish diplostomatosis in Strawberry Reservoir following rotenone application: a five-year study

Authors

Victor H. Inchausty, Brigham Young University
Richard A. Heckmann, Brigham Young University

Abstract

Strawberry Reservoir, Wasatch County, Utah, was treated with rotenone in August 1990. For 5 yr following treatment, about 2000 fish from 5 different species were examined for eye metacercariae (Diplostomum). Incidence dropped from 88.0% before to 0.1% after treatment for cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), from 93.0% to 0.1% for rainbow trout (O. mykiss), and from 19.0% to 10.0% for redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus). Average numbers of metacercariae per eye also dropped from 6.8 to 0.1 for cutthroat trout, from 23.1 to 0.1 for rainbow trout, and from 18.9 to 0.1 for redside shiner. Kokanee salmon (O.nerka), introduced into the reservoir 1 yr after treatment, had a 0.9% prevalence rate and average of 0.1 metacercariae per eye. Rotenone affected almost all organisms in the system. Low incidence of diplostomatosis after treatment indicates that rotenone effectively destroyed many intermediate hosts (fish, snails), which in turn probably affected parasite burdens in definitive hosts (gulls). These changes in metacercariae per host probably occurred because of the complex life cycle of the organism, which is similar to the other trematodes. Rotenone is a specific inhibitor of electron transport complex I and can be devastating to parasites with complex life cycles. Through a combination of factors, parasite numbers have decreased in Strawberry Reservoir.

Recommended Citation

Inchausty, Victor H. and Heckmann, Richard A. (1997) "Evaluation of fish diplostomatosis in Strawberry Reservoir following rotenone application: a five-year study," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 57: No. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol57/iss1/5