How females of Achtheinus spp. (Pandaridae: Siphonostomatoida) attach to their elasmobranch hosts with notes on their effects on the hosts fins
Abstract
Copepods of the genus Achtheinus Wilson, 1908 (Pandaridae) are parasites of elasmobranchs that attach to their fins, gill
slits and around the nostrils. Specimens of Achtheinus pinguis Wilson, 1912 were collected and examined using histology and scanning
electron microscopy to determine their way of attachment to the host and the possible effect on the host. They insert their antennae
deep into the dermis of the shark’s skin, which causes the most damage due to possible tissue compression and/or fibrosis as well as
rupture of the connective tissue. Additionally, the presence of the copepod on the skin causes cell erosion of the epidermal cells and thus
reduces the number of epidermal layers. The maxillipeds are used to attach to the placoid scales that cover the shark’s skin and probably
serve to keep the copepod and inserted antennae in position. This is accomplished by the insertion of the placoid scales into the flaccid
corpus of the maxillipeds. Observed damage seems to be negligible to the shark apart from the possibility of secondary infection
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/18739https://folia.paru.cas.cz/pdfs/fol/2015/01/05.pdf
https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2015.005