SURVEY OF THE PARATENIC HOSTS OF ANGUILLICOLA-CRASSUS IN LAKE VELENCE, HUNGARY

Anguillicola crassus infection of paratenic hosts was investigated in Lake Velence, Hungary, in October 1999. A total of 155 specimens of 8 species (Gymnocephalus cernuus, Lepomis gibbosus, Stizostedion luciope rca, Abramis brama, Alburnus alburnus, Cyprinus carpio, Pseudorasbora parva and Rutilus rutilus) were examined: all species proved to be inf ected. There were large differences in the prevalence of infection amo ng fishes, but the prevalence was generally higher in Perciform fishes and it was the highest in G. cernuus (100%). The occurrence and physi cal stage of larvae did not depend on the size of the fish. In S. luci operca the size of third stage larvae was bigger than in other fishes, and only live larvae were found. The comparison of Lake Velence and L ake Balaton indicates that the rate of larval infection in paratenic h osts of A. crassus is higher in Lake Velence. This might be explained by the significant ecological differences between the two lakes (popul ation of intermediate hosts, water depth, salinity, pH).