The cymothoid isopod Anilocra chromis is negatively associated with multiple metrics of host condition in the Caribbean damselfish Chromis multilineata
Observational study reveals significant physiological and behavioral impairments in parasite-infested damselfish, suggesting broader population-level consequences.
Key Points
To evaluate spatial and temporal prevalence of the parasitic isopod Anilocra chromis and quantify its association with coinfection risk, gonadal development, feeding rates, and locomotion in brown chromis.
Surveyed Anilocra chromis infection prevalence across five reef sites in the US Virgin Islands over two years spanning pre- and post-hurricane periods.
Quantified host condition metrics including coinfection abundance with other parasites, male gonadal development, feeding bite-rates, and locomotion fin-beat frequency.
Parasite prevalence varied significantly across reef locations, but Anilocra presence showed no detectable relationship with the abundance of coinfecting parasite species.
Infected fish exhibited significantly reduced male gonadal development, decreased feeding bite-rates, and elevated locomotion fin-beat rates compared to uninfected conspecifics.