Shedding of Untransformed Glochidia by Fishes Parasitized by Lampsilis fasciola Rafinesque, 1820 (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae): Evidence of Acquired Immunity in the Field?

ABSTRACT Fifteen fish species were exposed to glochidia from the freshwater mussel Lampsilis fasciola. Mussels and fishes were collected in the Big Darby Creek system in Ohio. All fishes began shedding untransformed glochidia within 24 hrs of exposure and continued for approximately eight days. On Day 19, after two weeks of inactivity, rosefin shiner began to shed numerous untransformed glochidia again. This release lasted 24 days. Rainbow darter began shedding untransformed glochidia on Day 25 and continued to do so for 14 days. No transformation occurred on either fish species. We believe this reaction was due to an acquired immunity and may represent the first report of this phenomenon in wild-caught fishes.

[1]  J. Hruska.  The freshwater pearl mussel in South Bohemia: evaluation of the effect of temperature on reproduction, growth and age structure of the population , 1992 .

[2]  D. Waller,et al.  Gill tissue reactions in walleye Stizostedion vitreum vitreum and common carp Cyprinus carpio to glochidia of the freshwater mussel Lampsilis radiata siliquoidea , 1989 .

[3]  G. Purser,et al.  Infection and Successful Reinfection of Brown Trout [Salmo trutta (L)] with Glochidia of Margaritifera margaritifera (L) , 1987 .

[4]  G. Bauer.  The parasitic stage of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.). II: Susceptibility of brown trout , 1987 .

[5]  G. Bauer.  The parasitic stage of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.). III: Host relationships , 1987 .

[6]  C. Vogel,et al.  The parasitic stage of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.). I: Host response to glochidiosis , 1987 .

[7]  R. Neves,et al.  Reproductive Cycle and Fish Hosts of the Rabbit's Foot Mussel, Quadrula cylindrica strigillata (Mollusca: Unionidae) in the Upper Tennessee River Drainage1 , 1986 .

[8]  W. Hoeh,et al.  Eurytopic Host Use by Two Congeneric Species of Freshwater Mussel (Pelecypoda: Unionidae: Anodonta) , 1982 .

[9]  A. Zale,et al.  Identification of a Host Fish for Alasmidonta minor (Mollusca: Unionidae) , 1982 .

[10]  A. Zale,et al.  Reproductive Biology of Four Freshwater Mussel Species (Mollusca: Unionidae) in Virginia , 1982, Freshwater Invertebrate Biology.

[11]  C. H. Fernando,et al.  Observations on the glochidia of Lampsilis radiata (Gmelin) infesting yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill) in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario , 1969 .

[12]  L. B. Arey.  A microscopical study of glochidial immunity , 1932 .

[13]  R. S. Corwin.  Raising Freshwater Mussels in Enclosures , 1920 .

[14]  F. Reuling.  Acquired Immunity to an Animal Parasite , 1919 .