AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Species | Anguillicoloides crassus | |
Date of the first record (?) | 1987 References (not structured): Kennedy CR. Fitch DJ. 1990. Colonisation, larval survival and epidemiology of the nematode Anguillicola crassus, parasitic in the eel Anguilla anguilla, in Britain. Journal of Fish Biology 36: 117-131. Køie M (1988) Parasites in European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) from Danish freshwater, brackish and marine localities. Ophelia 29: 93-118. Comments: Generally considered to have been introduced to the east coast of England with contaminated viviere trucks from continental Europe to collect captured eels. |
Recipient region (?) | Country: United Kingdom (Britain) LME: 22. North Sea |
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Source region (?) | Ocean: Pacific --> Ocean region: NW Pacific References (not structured): Lefebvre F, Wielgoss S, Nagasawa K, Moravec F (2012) On the origin of Anguillicoloides crassus, the invasive nematode of anguillid eels Aquatic Invasions 7 (4): 443–453 Comments: While not conclusive it is likely that the species may have originated from Japan. |
Pathway / Vector (?) | Level of certainty: Highly likely Pathway: Live food trade Vector: (Highly likely) Transported water (Live food trade) References (not structured): Kennedy CR. Fitch DJ. 1990. Colonisation, larval survival and epidemiology of the nematode Anguillicola crassus, parasitic in the eel Anguilla anguilla, in Britain. Journal of Fish Biology 36: 117-131. Køie, M., 1991. Swimbladder nematodes (Anguillicola spp.) and gill monogeneans (Pseudodactylogyrus spp.) parasitic on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 47: 391-398. Moravec, F., and Skorikova, B., 1998. Amphibians and larvae of aquatic insects as new paratenic hosts of Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea), a swimbladder parasite of eels. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 34: 217-222. Belpaire, C., De Charleroy, D., Thomas, K., van Damme, P. and Ollevier, F. 1989. Effects of eel restocking on the distribution of the nematode Anguillicola crassus in Flanders, Belgium. - J. Appl. Ecol. 5: 151-153. Comments: Likely to have been introduced in tanks of trucks carrying infected eels Anguilla anguilla in restocking or in movements of such vehicles involved in collecting eels from different fisheries in separate river catchments. It is possible that it may have been spread in ships ballast water with the intermediate stage being carried by copepods which survive in ballast water discharged in estuarine conditions. Is dispersal being carried to different ctachments via paratenic insect hosts is possible. |
Habitat type (?) | Estuary Lagoon Offshore Open coast Port vicinity Sheltered coastal area References (not structured): Kirk RS (2003) The impact of Anguillicola crassus on European eels. Fisheries Management and Ecology 10(6): 385-394. Comments: While infected eels have not been captured at sea, the silver eel stage captured in estuaries, on its seaward migration, has been found to be infected with adult nematode stages. |
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Wave exposure (?) | Exposed Semi exposed Sheltered References (not structured): Kirk RS (2003) The impact of Anguillicola crassus on European eels. Fisheries Management and Ecology 10(6): 385-394. Comments: While eels migrate to undergo long ocean spawning migrations it is not clear at what depths these migrations take place and as a result the direct level of exposure of the nematodes host is unknown. |
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Salinity range (?) | Venice system: 1. Limnetic [<0.5psu] 2. β-Oligohaline [0.5-3psu] 3. α-Oligohaline [3-5psu] 4. β-Mesohaline [5-10psu] 5. α-Mesohaline [10-18psu] 6. Polymixohaline [18-30psu] 7. Euhaline [30-40psu] References (not structured): Kirk RS, Kennedy CR, Lewis JW (2000) Effect of salinity on hatching, survival and infectivity of Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) larvae. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 40(3): 211-218. Comments: The larval stage can exist in estuarine regions where copepods may injest them. All other stages remain within intermediate, paratenic hosts and freshwater eels. Laboratory studies of nematode larval survival was greatest in freshwater but could survive in normal seawater |
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Temperature range (?) | Min: 2 Max: 30 References (not structured): Knopf K, Wurtz J, Sures B,Taraschewski H (1998) Impact of low water temperature on the development of Anguillicola crassus in the final host Anguilla anguilla. - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 33: 143-149. Thomas K, Olleveir F (1993) Hatching, survival, activity and penetration of second-stage larvae of Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda). Parasitology 107(2): 211-217. Comments: The temperature ranges are that of the adult eel ranging from shallow freshwater environments to deep-sea cold water. At 4 oC the larvae are unable to penetrate into the host tissues but adult stages can tolerate these temperatures. |
Zonation / Substratum (?) | Not entered | |
Reproductive duration (?) | Long References (not structured): Knopf K, Wurtz J, Sures B, Taraschewski H (1998) Impact of low water temperature on the development of Anguillicola crassus in the final host Anguilla anguilla. - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 33: 143-149. Comments: Temperature related production of larvae is known from laboratory studies with reduced at low temperatures below 4C, prolonged periods of 4 months or more increased adult nematode mortalities. As a result larval production must be seen to take place during late spring into the autumn in northern Europe with a shorter production period in Scotland over England. | |
Reproductive seasonality (?) | Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. References (not structured): Knopf K, Wurtz J, Sures B,Taraschewski, H (1998) Impact of low water temperature on the development of Anguillicola crassus in the final host Anguilla anguilla. - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 33: 143-149. Comments: spring to summer and may be extended in warmer years |
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Migration pattern (?) | Life-time Seasonal References (not structured): Aarestrup K, Okland F, Hansen MM, Righton D, Gargan P, Castonguay M, Bernatchez L, Howey P, Sparhof H, Pedersen ML, McKimley RS (2009) Oceanic spawning migration of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) SCience 325(5948): 1660. Comments: An involuntary migration takes place with its host with its movements within river catchments and ultimately some will be carried with their hosts ocean migration. |
Population status (?) | Common (Moderate level of certainty) References (not structured): Kennedy CR (2005) Introductions, spread and colonisation of new localities by fish helminth and crustacean parasites in the British Isles: a perspective and appraisal. Journal of Fish Biology 43: 287-301. Belpaire C, De Charleroy D, Thomas K, van Damme P, Ollevier F (1989) Effects of eel restocking on the distribution of the nematode Anguillicola crassus in Flanders, Belgium. - J. Appl. Ecol. 5: 151-153. Koops H, Hartmann F (1989) Anguillicola infestations in Germany and in German eel imports. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 1: 41-45. Pilcher MW, Moore JF (1993) Distribution and prevalence of Anguillicola crassus in eels from the tidal Thames catchment. Journal of Fish Biology 43(3): 339-344. Lyndon AR, Pieters N (2005) First record of the eel swimbladder parasite Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda) from Scotland. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, 25, 82–85. Comments: The nematode is widely distributed and can form significant burdens in its host. With initial prevalence levels of 10 to 50% within a year in northern Europe. In the Thames a prevalence level of up to 32% with intensities of one to five adults neamatodes in the early 1990s. It was not found in Scotland until almost a decade later from three river catchments. |
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Species status (?) | Non-indigenous species References (not structured): Kennedy CR (1993) Introductions, spread and colonization of new localities by fish helminth and crustacean parasites in the British Isles: a perspective and appraisal. J Fish Biol 43:287-301 Kennedy CR, Fitch DJ (1990) Colonisation, larval survival and epidemiology of the nematode Anguillicola crassus, parasitic in the eel Anguilla anguilla, in Britain. Journal of Fish Biology 36: 117-131. Lefebvre F, Wielgoss S, Nagasawa K, Moravec F (2012) On the origin of Anguillicoloides crassus, the invasive nematode of anguillid eels Aquatic Invasions 7 (4): 443–453. Køie M (1991) Swimbladder nematodes (Anguillicola spp.) and gill monogeneans (Pseudodactylogyrus spp.) parasitic on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). - J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 47: 391-398. Comments: This is clearly a non-native species having most probably with Japanese freshwater eels Anguilla japonica thought to have been introduced from Taiwan to eastern Europe in an aquaculture study in the early 1980s. |
Port vicinities | Port vicinity #1/2: London Date of the first record: 1990 - 1992 Population status: Common References: Belpaire C, De Charleroy D, Thomas K, van Damme P, Ollevier F (1989) Effects of eel restocking on the distribution of the nematode Anguillicola crassus in Flanders, Belgium. - J. Appl. Ecol. 5: 151-153. Koops, H., & Hartmann, F., 1989. Anguillicola infestations in Germany and in German eel imports. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 1: 41-45. Pilcher MW, Moore JF (1993) Distribution and prevalence of Anguillicola crassus in eels from the tidal Thames catchment. Journal of Fish Biology 43(3): 339-344. Comments: A prevalence of up to 32% in its host the freshwater eel has been reported. Port vicinity #2/2: London Date of the first record: 1987 Population status: Common |
Created by | Dan Minchin |
Last update by | Elizabeth J. Cook, 2013-11-13 |