Parasite communities of stream fish assemblages in the western United States are poorly known. We investigated the intestinal parasites of an assemblage of stream fishes in Spanish Fork River in central Utah, USA. Two species, mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) and redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), had no observable parasites. In the other 3 species, southern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda aliciae), mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus), and longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), we identified metacercia of an unidentified trematode. We found adult cestodes in southern leatherside chub only. Prevalence and intensity of parasites was highest in southern leatherside chub. Reasons for differential prevalence and intensity of parasites among host fish species are unknown, but there seems to be no relationship to trophic position or habitat use in this fish community.
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1 November 2016
The Intestinal Parasites of an Assemblage of Stream Fishes in Central Utah
Matthew Rambo,
Ashlee N. Smith,
Mehmet Cemal Oguz,
Mark C. Belk
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