Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 79
(2002) 80-85
Field and laboratory studies of Ophryoglena
sp. (Ciliata: Ophryoglenidae) infection in zebra mussels, Dreissena
polymorpha (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae)
Alexander Y. Karatayev,a,* Lyubov E.
Burlakova,a Daniel P. Molloy,b Lyudmila K. Volkova,c
and Vladimir V. Volosyukc
a Department of Biology, Stephen
F Austin State University, P. O. Box 13003, SF A Station, Nacogdoches,
TX 75962-3003, USA
b Division of Research and
Collections, New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230, USA
C General Ecology Department,
Belarussian State University, 4 Skoryna Avenue, Minsk 220050, Belarus
Received 6 July 2001; accepted 19
April 2002
Abstract
This study, conducted in the Dnieper-Bug Canal in
Belarus, is the first to monitor the seasonal (June-November) dynamics of
infection with the parasitic ciliate Ophryoglena sp. in a zebra mussel (Dreissena
polymorpha) population. Mean population prevalence and intensity of
infection varied, respectively, from 11 to 62% and from 0.9 to 24.1
ciliates/mussel. Mean prevalence was highly correlated with mussel length in
mussels <20 mm (R2 = 0.97) and was lower in larger
mussels. Mean infection intensity in mussels 1-25 mm long was similarly
correlated with their size (R = 0.98), reached a maximum in the 20-25 mm
size-class, and then sharply decreased, thus providing evidence, albeit
limited, that high intensity of infection might be lethal. Transinfection of
zebra mussels by Ophryoglena sp. was achieved in the laboratory-a first
for a protozoan parasite of D. polymorpha; from an initial complete lack
of infection, mean prevalence and intensity rose, respectively, to 86.7% and
8.3 ciliates/mussel. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Keywords: Ophryoglenidae;
Ophryoglena sp; Parasitic; Zebra mussels; Dreissena polymorpha; Infection
prevalence; Infection intensity; Laboratory transinfection
* Corresponding author. Fax:
+936-468-2056.
E-mail addresses: akaratayev@sfasu.edu (A.Y. Karatayev), dmolloy@mail.nysed.gov
(D.P. Molloy).