First Report of the Asian Fish Tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea:Bothriocephalidae) from Oklahoma with New Host Records in Non-Hatchery Fishes in Arkansas

The Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi is an invasive pathogen in North America and beyond. It first appeared in North America in the mid-1970s likely arriving in shipments of introduced Grass Carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella from China to control aquatic vegetation. This tapeworm now can be found in many parts of the world (except Antarctica) where it infects over 200 species of fishes, including several raised in commercial hatcheries. In examining 67 fishes, including 11 Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales notatus), one Spotted Sucker (Minytrema melanops), 17 Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and 22 Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) from four watersheds in Arkansas, and 16 G. affinis from a watershed in Oklahoma, we found B. acheilognathi in 15 (22%) of them. In addition, examination of 256 fishes from the same watersheds where other fishes were infected with this tapeworm yielded no B. acheilognathi. Here, we report, for the first time, B. acheilognathi in an Oklahoma fish, document two new host records, and confirm the parasite in Arkansas in non-hatchery fishes. ©2015 Oklahoma Academy of Science