Asian Fish Tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) Infecting a Wild Population of Convict Cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) in Southwestern California

Abstract

Abstract. — In September 2007 and May 2014, the Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti,1934 (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea), was found in populations of the non-native convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) collected from the discharge channel of a water treatment plant in Los Angeles County. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection of 450 convict cichlids and 70 mosquitofish were 55.3%/9.3 and 11%/1.4, respectively. Overall prevalence and mean intensity of infection in the convict cichlid was higher in 2007 (92%/12.3) than in 2014 (37%/5.4). In 2007, parameters of infection were size-dependent. The highest prevalence/mean intensity of infection was revealed in small fish (100%/15.5) and the lowest in large fish (66.7%/1.5). No statistically significant differences in infection parameters were found in convict cichlids of different size classes in 2014. This paper provides the first documented record of the Asian fish tapeworm infecting a wild population of the convict cichlid in the U.S.