Zhokhov A E, Pugacheva M N
Parazitologiia. 2001 May-Jun;35(3):201-12.
The fauna of fish parasites in the Volga river increased by 15 species in last time. These parasites have invaded together with introduced hosts or dispersed after destruction of some physical and ecological barriers. The infusoria Ambiphrya ameuri, cestode Cestobothrium acheilognathi, trematodes Amurotrema dombrovskajae and Sanguinicola skrabini have been introduced together with their hosts. A creation of water reservoirs destroyed ecological barriers and created favorable conditions for the migration and dispersion of parasites. The cestodes Eubothrium rugosum, Proteocephalus longicollis, and nematode Cystidicola farionis migrated from the North, Aspidogaster limacoides migrated from the South. The leech Caspiobdella fadejevi, trematodes Rossicotrema donicus, Apophallus muehlingi, Niccola skrjabini, Plagioporus skrjabini migrated through the Volga-Don channel. Some invader have already finished their dispersion in the water reservoirs of Volga river, other parasites still continue this process. South border of the E. rugosum range is in the Kujbyshev water basin, the leech C. fadejevi is distributed in all water basins, trematodes R. donicus, A. muehlingi and P. skrjabini are found in the Volga delta, while N. skrjabini has already reached the Saratov water basin. Perspectives of new invaders and epizootic significance of invaders is discussed.