Structure and Dynamics of the French upper Rhône ecosystems XII. An inventory of helminth fish parasites from the upper Rhône river (France)

Eleven species of helminth parasites (five acanthocephalans, five cestodes and one trematode) are reported from altogether sixteen fish hosts in the Rhône River, N.E. of Lyon. The most common parasite is Pomphorhynchus laevis, which occurs in all fish species examined. Echinorhynchus borealis seems to he restricted mainly to Burbot. Metechinorhynchus truttae was not frequently met with, but was very numerous in Grayling from the river Furans. Acanthocephalus anguillae was found in fishes from the so-called ”lônes” (backwaters). A. lucii was rarely encountered during the present study. Of Cestoda, Caryophyllaeus laticeps is confined to fishes feeding on muddy substrates, Bathybothrium rectangulum was found in Barbel, and Eubothrium rugosum in Burbot. Proteocephalus torulosus is recorded from Dace and Chub, and Cyathocephalus truncatus from Trout and Grayling. The trematode Crepidostomum farionis occurred in the latter as well.