Prevalence of parasitism in the Grotto Sculpin (Cottus specus), a new species of cave-adapted fish from southeastern Missouri, USA

Abstract

Acanthocephalan parasites infecting the newly described Grotto Sculpin (Cottus specus), a state-threatened and federally endangered troglomorphic fish endemic to Perry County, Missouri, were identified in fish from six cave and four non-cave karst streams. Infection rate and infestation severity were higher among fish from cave streams as compared to non-cave streams. Fish from several caves presented with cases of severe infection and near complete parasite occupation of the intestinal tract. Increased cannibalism and variable water quality are proposed as possible explanations for increased Grotto Sculpin parasitism. This observation suggests that the health of cave fauna may be tied to diet and host population dynamics, and that species subject to severe dietary restrictions and the effects of anthropogenic disturbances may have high vulnerability and conservation risks.