Occurrence of Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) in eels of Lake Ohrid, Macedonia

Abstract

The first record of the eel parasite Anguillicola crassus Kuwahara, (Niimi et Itagaki, 1974) from Lake Ohrid and the Republic of Macedonia is reported here. Parasitological examinations comprised 68 specimens of the eel Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus, 1758 of which 39.71% were infected with Anguillicola crassus. The prevalence varied depending on the season, with the highest value occuring during the autumn (47.06%). Average intensity of infection was 10.33. Anguillicola crassus was probably introduced into the lake by the artificial stocking with eel young, imported from abroad. It has found convenient conditions for development and multiplication in the lake due to the presence of transitional and paratenic hosts.