SEASONAL OCCURRENCE AND MATURATION OF BATHYBOTHRIUM-RECTANGULUM (CESTODA, AMPHICOTYLIDAE) IN BARBEL BARBUS-BARBUS (PISCES) OF - THE JIHLAVA-RIVER, CZECH-REPUBLIC

Seasonal dynamics of the tapeworm Bathybothrium rectangulum (Bloch, 17 82), a parasite of barbel (Barbus barbus), was studied from April 1992 to June 1993 in the Jihlava River (the Danube besin), Czech Republic. Although the cestodes occurred in fish throughout the year, their mat uration exhibited a marked seasonality with new infections (recruitmen t) in summer (July), growth and maturation in autumn and winter, worms with ripe eggs left the fish hosts from May to July. Smaller fish (si ze less than or equal to 35 cm) were more frequently infected with ces todes than larger ones, although mean intensity reached its maximum in 35.5-40 cm long fish.