Seasonal occurrence and metrical variability of Gyrodactylus rhodei Zitnan 1964 (Monogenea, Gyrodactylidae).

The seasonal dynamics of Gyrodactylus rhodei, a monogenean ectoparasite of bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus), was studied from June 2000 to May 2001 in the Kyjovka River, Czech Republic. A negative relationship between prevalence and intensity of infection of G. rhodei and water temperature was found. Metrical variability of the hard parts of the parasite haptor was studied throughout the sampling season. A negative relationship between water temperature and the size of the hard parts of the G. rhodei haptor was evident in the measurements of the total length of the marginal hooks, the sickle length of marginal hooks, anchors, anchor point and root, the width of the ventral bar and the membrane processes. Sequences of the partial ITS (rDNA) of specimens collected during the cold and warm seasons were analysed. Sequences of all studied parasite specimens were identical and there was no evidence of intraspecific variability in the sequenced region.