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Eugregarine infection within the digestive tract of larval Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba

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Abstract

The infection rate of eugregarine parasites, Cephaloidophora pacifica, within the digestive tract of larval Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, was examined using samples collected from the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Immature and mature eugregarine gamont stages were found at all larval stages older than Calyptopis I stage. Eugregarine infection in 14.0% (N = 108) of the first feeding stage (Calyptopis I) suggested that krill larvae are at risk from being infected during physiological transition from non-feeding to feeding stages. Eugregarine prevalence and intensity of infection at the three calyptopis stages increased with stage/krill length. Statistical analysis showed that the intensity of C. pacifica infection also increased with host density. Thus, krill density is probably a key determinant of the intensity of infection. We found gamont stage eugregarines in the host hind-gut, blocking the passage of food. Eugregarine infections in larval krill may have a negative impact on digestion and absorption in the host digestive tract.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Professor T. Hoshiai, leader of the JARE-23, and members of the JARE-23 for their cooperation with fieldwork on the ice. We also thank the officers and crew of the R/V Tangaroa, chartered by the JARE-43, for their kind assistance during the cruise. This work was supported in part by the JARE STAGE program and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI 22770025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3, Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-8518, Japan

    Kunio T. Takahashi, Mitsuo Fukuchi & Tsuneo Odate

  2. Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia

    So Kawaguchi

  3. Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, 1-236 Tangi-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-8577, Japan

    Masaki Kobayashi & Tatsuki Toda

  4. Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Atsushi Tanimura

Authors
  1. Kunio T. Takahashi
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  2. So Kawaguchi
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  3. Masaki Kobayashi
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  4. Tatsuki Toda
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  5. Atsushi Tanimura
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  6. Mitsuo Fukuchi
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  7. Tsuneo Odate
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Correspondence to Kunio T. Takahashi.

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Takahashi, K.T., Kawaguchi, S., Kobayashi, M. et al. Eugregarine infection within the digestive tract of larval Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba . Polar Biol 34, 1167–1174 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-0979-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-0979-0

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