Effects of the cestode parasite, Cyathocephalus truncatus, on the fecundity and feeding rate of Gammarus pulex (Crustacea: Amphipoda).

The amphipod Gammarus pulex is an intermediate host to the Cestode fish parasite Cyathocephalus truncatus. In this study, we investigate effect of parasitism on female fecundity and feeding rate and compare ours results to those obtained previously with acanthocephalan parasite. Similar reduction of the female fecundity was measured, whereas ours results on feeding rate were inconsistent, with a decrease of feeding rate induced by C. truncatus. The impacts of C. truncatus on G. pulex and similarities on the host infection effect between parasites from different phyla are discussed.