Epidemiology and pathology of Anguillicoloides crassus in European eel Anguilla anguilla from the Tagus estuary (Portugal).

Infection of the European eel Anguilla anguilla by the swimbladder nematode Anguillicoloides crassus was investigated for the first time at 5 sampling sites in the Tagus estuary (Portugal). A total of 332 yellow eels were examined, revealing a prevalence of 56% and a mean intensity of 3.2 lumen worms per swimbladder. The effect of the host's sex and size on parasitism descriptors was studied. Only total length (TL) was considered a significant determinant, with larger eels harbouring a higher number of nematodes. Eels were parasitized in 4 of the 5 sampling sites, with prevalence values following the salinity gradient along the Tagus estuary. No signs of the nematode were observed in the most saline site. Variations in the intensity of infection were only apparent when a large geographic scale including a wide temperature range was considered. Although 68% of the analysed eels showed pathological damage to the swimbladder caused by the parasite, injuries were relatively reduced in comparison with other studies. No effect of the infection on the condition of the body and on liver condition was detected. However, considerable spleen enlargement was observed with increasing parasite load, which could be related to the bloodsucking activity of this nematode.