Metazoan Parasites Infecting Lake Greenwood Fish

Kyra Smith

Fifteen fish representing four different species were captured by hook and line from Lake Greenwood and examined for metazoan parasites including one redear sunfish, two bluegill, five spotted bass, and seven white perch. Dactylogyrus sp. and Spinitectus carolini were recovered from all four species. Camallanus oxycephalus infected the redear, bluegill, and spotted bass. Crepidostomum cooperi was found only in the redear and Glochidia were only recovered from the gills of white perch. The parasites recovered in this study are all ubiquitous parasites of freshwater fishes, although individual species of Dactylogyrus tend to display significant host specificity.       

• Kyra Smith graduated from Summerville High School in Summerville and is a junior biology major with a minor in chemistry. She is a member of the Lander University Honors College and the Psi Theta chapter of TriBeta National Biological Honors Society.