Diplostomiasis in native and introduced fishes from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Authors

Victor H. Inchausty, Brigham Young University
Michael Foutz, Brigham Young University
Richard A. Heckmann, Brigham Young University
Claudete Ruas, Brigham Young University
Paulo Ruas, Brigham Young University

Abstract

Totals of 101 native Yellowstone cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri), 27 introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and 40 introduced longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, USA, were examined for eye flukes. Metacercariae of the trematode fluke Diplostomum were in vitreous humor and/or lens of 94% of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, 92% of lake trout, and 78% of longnose sucker. Longnose sucker had 7% prevalence of infection in both lens and vitreous humor of metacercariae, while Yellowstone cutthroat trout had 3% and lake trout 8%. Diplostomum spathaceum was in lens tissue of 5% of infected Yellowstone cutthroat trout and 93% of longnose sucker; Diplostomum baeri was in vitreous humor of 92% each of infected Yellowstone cutthroat trout and lake trout. Morphological characteristics indicate that a single species infected the lens of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and longnose sucker, while another species infected lake trout. Impacts of the parasite interchange between native and introduced fishes of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, are unknown but should be monitored each year.

Recommended Citation

Inchausty, Victor H.; Foutz, Michael; Heckmann, Richard A.; Ruas, Claudete; and Ruas, Paulo (1997) "Diplostomiasis in native and introduced fishes from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 57: No. 2, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol57/iss2/11