Effects of aqueous aluminium on four fish ectoparasites

Effects of aqueous aluminium on four species of fish ectoparasites were studied. Fish infected by Gyrodactylus derjavini, G. macronychus and Anodonta anatina glochidia, and free living Argulus foliaceus were exposed to acidic Al-rich water (pH 5.8), acidic Al-poor water (pH 5.8) and control water (pH 6.3). The results showed that aqueous aluminium had a negative effect on the ectoparasites tested, without any apparent negative effect on the fish hosts. The effect of aluminium was dependent on the kind of organism tested. The gyrodactylids were eliminated, while the duck mussel glochidia showed a decrease in abundance when exposed to 200–260 μg Al/l at pH 5.8. The little fish louse showed increased mortality rate when exposed to aluminium. The effects of aluminium on the parasites in the present study confirm the importance of water quality in general, and acidification in particular, for the distribution and population dynamics of ectoparasites in freshwater environments.