Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chaetogaster limnaei (Annelida: Oligochaeta) as a parasite of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, and the quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dreissenid mussels, Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis, were found to be infected by the naidid oligochaete Chaetogaster limnaei at four sites in the St. Lawrence River. This is the first report of this species infecting dreissenids anywhere in the world. Most worms inhabited the mantle cavity, where they caused erosion of the mantle and gill epithelia as determined by histopathological examination. Others penetrated various tissues; one had invaded the ovary and was feeding on oocytes and ovarian tissues. Of 606 mussels examined, 166 (27.4%) harbored at least 1 C. limnaei. The prevalence varied between 1% and 80%, depending on the collection site and date. The worms were slightly but significantly more prevalent in D. bugensis than in D. polymorpha. The intensity ranged from 1 to 18 worms per infected host. Variations in prevalence and intensity were not related to the size or sex of the host, but the data did suggest some seasonality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barbour MT (1977) Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei (Oligchaeta: Naididae) inhabiting the mantle cavity of the pill clam Sphaerium. Trans Am Microsc Soc 96:141–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buse A (1971) Population dynamics of Chaetogaster limnaei vaghini Gruffydd (Oligochaeta) in a field population of Lymnaea stagnalis L. Oikos 22:50–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buse A (1972) Behavioural aspects of the relationship of Chaetogaster limnaei (Oligochaeta: Naididae) with its gastropod host. Anim Behav 20:274–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buse A (1974) The relationship of Chaetogaster limnaei (Oligochaeta: Naididae) with a variety of gastropod species. J Anim Ecol 43:821–837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coker RE, Shira A, Clark H, Howard A (1921) Natural history and propagation of freshwater mussels. U S Bur Fish Bull 37:77–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, Conn DA (1993) Parasitism, predation and other biotic associations between dreissenid mussels and native animals in the St. Lawrence River. In: Tsou JL (ed) Proceedings: third international zebra mussel conference. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, pp 223–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, Conn DA (1995) Experimental infestation of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca: Bivalvia), by metacercariae of Echinoparyphium sp. (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda). J Parasitai 81:304–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, LeTendre GC, Cluett S, LaPan SR (1991) Colonization of navigational buoys by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the St. Lawrence River. Dreissena polymorpha Inform Rev (NY Sea Grant Extension) 2:5

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, LaPan SR, LeTendre GC (1992a) Range expansion of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena sp.) in the St. Lawrence River and the eastern basin of Lake Ontario. Dreissena polymorpha Inform Rev (NY Sea Grant Extension) 3:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, Shoen KA, Lee S-J (1992b) The spread of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in the St. Lawrence River, and its potential interactions with native benthic biota. J Shellfish Res 11:222–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, Lutz RA, Hu YP, Kennedy VS (1993) Guide to the identification of larval and postlarval stages of zebra mussels, Dreissena spp. and the dark false mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata. New York Sea Grant Institute, Stony Brook

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DB, Babapulle MN, Klein KA, Rosen DA (1994) Invading the invaders: infestation of zebra mussels by native parasites in the St. Lawrence River. In: Miller A, Hanson L (eds) Proceedings: fourth international zebra mussel conference. Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Madison, pp 515–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Davids C, Kraak MHS (1993) Trematode parasites of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). In: Nalepa TF, Schloesser DW (eds) Zebra mussels: biology, impacts, and control. Lewis, Boca Raton, Florida, pp 749–759

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggleton FE (1952) Dynamics of interdepression benthic communities. Trans Am Microsc Soc 71:189–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eng LL (1976) A note on the occurrence of a symbiotic oligochaete, Chaetogaster limnaei, in the mantle cavity of the asiatic clam, Corbicula manilensis. Veliger 19:208

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez J, Goater TM, Esch GW (1991) Population dynamics of Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei (Oligochaeta) as affected by a trematode parasite in Helisoma anceps (Gastropoda). Am Midl Nat 125:195–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale WF (1973) Predation and parasitism as factors affecting Sphaerium transversum (Say) populations in Pool 19, Mississippi River. Res Pop Ecol 14:169–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamble HR, Fried B (1976) Experimental evidence for parasitism in the relationship between Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei (Oligochaeta) and Physa acuta (Gastropoda). Veliger 18:393–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths RW, Schloesser DW, Leach JH, Kovalak WP (1991) Distribution and dispersal of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes region. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 48:1381–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruffydd LD (1965) The population biology of Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei and Chaetogaster limnaei vaghini (Oligochaeta). J Anim Ecol 34:667–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hebert PDN, Muncaster BW, Mackie GL (1989) Ecological and genetic studies on Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas): a new mollusc in the Great Lakes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 46:1587–1591

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebert PDN, Wilson CC, Murdoch MH, Lazar R (1991) Demography and ecological impacts of the invading mollusc Dreissena polymorpha. Can J Zool 69:405–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenk R (1949) The animal life of temporary and permanent ponds in southern Michigan. Misc Publ Mus Zool Univ Mich 71:5–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Khalil LF (1961) On the capture and destruction of miracidia by Chaetogaster limnaei (Oligochaeta). J Helminthol 35:269–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ludyanskiy ML, McDonald D, MacNeill D (1993) Impact of the zebra mussel, a bivalve invader. BioScience 43:533–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills EL, Dermott RM, Roseman EF, Dustin D, Meilina E, Conn DB, Spidle A (1993) Colonization, ecology and population structure of the “quagga” mussel (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in the lower Great Lakes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 50:2305–2314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricciardi A (1994) Occurrence of chironomid larvae (Paratanytarsus sp.) as commensals of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis). Can J Zool 72:1159–1162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sickel JB (1981) Chaetogaster limnaei (Oligochaeta: Naididae) inhabiting the mantle cavity of the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea, in Barkley Lake, Kentucky, USA. Veliger 23:361–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Streit VB (1974) Populationsdynamik von Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei in einer Population von Ancylus fluviatilis. Arch Hydrobiol [Suppl] 47:106–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Toews S, Beverley-Burton M, Lawrimore T (1993) Helminth and protist parasites of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in the Great Lakes region of southwestern Ontario, with comments on associated bacteria. Can J Zool 71:1763–1766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagin VWL (1941) Chaetogaster limnaei K. Baer als Cercarienvertilger. Zool Anz 95:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis, 2nd edn. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. David Bruce Conn

    Present address: Department of Biology, The University of the South, 37383, Sewanee, TN, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, McGill University, H3A 1B1, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    Anthony Ricciardi

  2. Department of Biology, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY, USA

    Mohan N. Babapulle & Kristine A. Klein

  3. Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    David A. Rosen

Authors
  1. David Bruce Conn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anthony Ricciardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohan N. Babapulle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kristine A. Klein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David A. Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Bruce Conn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Conn, D.B., Ricciardi, A., Babapulle, M.N. et al. Chaetogaster limnaei (Annelida: Oligochaeta) as a parasite of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, and the quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Parasitol Res 82, 1–7 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360050058

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360050058

Keywords

Search

Navigation