PARASITES OF WALLEYES, STIZOSTEDION-VITREUM, FROM SAGINAW BAY, LAKE HURON, AND THE OTHER GREAT-LAKES

A total of 79 walleyes, Stizostedion vitreum (Percidae), was collected from inner and outer Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, in September 1993 and 1 994 and examined for parasites. Nine parasite species (one Monogenen, two Digenea, two Cestoda, one Nemaroda, one Copeporin, one Protozoa, o ne virus) infected walleyes from the bay. The copepod Ergasilus luciop ercarum had the highest prevalence and mean intensity followed by the cestode Bothriocephalus cuspidatus. Of the helminth species found, onl y B. cuspidatus and the monogenean Urocleidus aculeatus were gravid. W alleye parasite faunas were similar between areas. Walleyes from the G reat Lakes have had 46 parasites species recorded. Walleye is a defini tive host for many parasite species but does not play an important rol e as an intermediate and transport host for parasites in the Great Lak es.