THE INCIDENCE OF THE PARASITIC MITE UNIONICOLA ANODONTAISE INSIDE THE MOLLUSCAN HOST ANODONTA RUBENS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

The most common numbers of different stages of the parasite are restricted between 13 and 17 cm of the host shell length, but are rarely found at shell length below 13 cm and above 17 cm. The infection percent in the host population by the mite is very high (98.5%). The parasite-host relationship between the two parteners causes pathogenic severe changes which may lead
to reducion of fecundity or death of the host. A distinct damage to the tissue of the host was recorded as a result of the presence of the mite inside the gills of the molluscan host.