Quantitative evaluation of Clinostomum marginatum distribution in the fish host (Perca flavescens): Investigation of the impact on functional performance

Doiba Eshofonie & Precious Freeman Mentor: Takashi Maie 2017 Student Scholar Showcase Quantitative evaluation of Clinostomum marginatum distribution in the fish host (Perca flavescens): Investigation of the impact on functional performance Clinostomum marginatum is a trematode commonly found in freshwater fish. The adult C. marginatum stays in its definitive avian host’s mouth and throat. It releases eggs upon contact in water and the eggs hatch into a free-swimming miracidia, which infects an aquatic snail as the first intermediate host. The miracidia, then, develops into a cercaria and leaves the snail to find a fish as its second intermediate host. The cercaria burrows through the fish and develops into the encysted-form, metacercaria, known as the yellow grub. If the fish is eaten by the definitive avian host, the larval metacercaria exits the fish and develops into an adult form to complete its life cycle. In this study, we examined yellow perch infested with C. marginatum metacercaria for its distribution within the host fish’s body, perhaps indicative of its point of entry or interaction with its host. Additionally, we evaluated how the parasite would influence its host fish’s survival. Most of yellow perch samples had the yellow grubs in the axial muscles (35%), gills (28%), and fins (26%). We discuss the mode of infestation and implication of our results regarding its impact on locomotor performance and thus the survival of the fish