ENDOPARASITIC HELMINTHS OF THE EUROPEAN EEL, ANGUILLA-ANGUILLA, FROM 4 DISCONNECTED MEANDERS FROM THE RIVERS LEIE AND SCHELDT IN WESTERN FLANDERS, BELGIUM

The endoparasitic helminth communities of the European eel, Anguilla a nguilla (L.), were investigated in four meanders, cut off from the riv ers Leie and Scheldt in western Flanders, Belgium. Six species of helm inths (2 cestodes, 2 nematodes and 2 acanthocephalans) were found. The dominant parasite species was the nematode Anguillicola crassus (Kuwa hara, Niimi et Itagaki, 1974) infecting 79% of the eel population with intensities up to 112 specimens per fish. At two localities no acanth ocephalans could be found, whereas these parasites were very common at the other sites. The prevalence, mean intensity, intensity and abunda nce, their correlation to the body length, and the frequency distribut ions were analysed. The site selection of parasites is in relation to food composition and feeding habits of eels, physiological and structu ral differences in the intestine and possible interspecific competitio n were discussed.