ARGULOSIS OF THE PERCH FROM LAKE KENON (ZABAIKALSKY KRAI)

Abstract

Crustaceans of the subclass Branchiura Argulus foliaceus cause argulosis, an invasive disease in fish. Arguluses are temporary ectoparasites. Moving along the surface of the host's body, the crustaceans look for places accessible to blood vessels. After they have sucked blood, they leave the fish. Hemorrhages, wounds and ulcers appear in the affected areas. For free-swimming arguluses, behavioral adaptations are aimed at making the most of meetings with hosts and moving from one host to another. Our study presents data on crustaceans A. foliaceus from the perch from Lake Kenon (Amur River basin). The material was obtained from net catches in the first decade of June 2010. Individuals of the perch of the same size and age groups 2+–4+ were caught at the mouth of the Kadalinka River and in the warm water discharge zone of the Chita CHP-1. According to the results of our research, the relative abundance of argulus in the perch is significantly higher in the area of the mouth of the Kadalinka River than in the warm water discharge zone of the Chita CHP-1. In the springsummer period, the number of crustaceans increases during the spawning of adult fish and the feeding of juveniles in the area of the mouth of the Kadalinka River.