Journal
PARASITOLOGY
Volume 148, Issue 7, Pages 850-856Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000445
Keywords
Aquaculture; circadian; fish lice; parasite behaviour
Categories
Funding
- NERC GW4 + Doctoral Training Partnership studentship from the Natural Environment Research Council [NE/L002434/1]
- BBSRC Future Leader Fellowship [BB/R010609/1]
- CASE partner, the Environment Agency
- BBSRC [BB/R010609/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Understanding and utilizing the behaviors of parasites, such as fish lice, could improve control strategies. The off-host behavior of Argulus foliaceus shows a diurnal pattern and a strong attraction to light, which could potentially be used to trap the parasites and reduce their activity in aquaculture settings.
Parasites display a wide range of behaviours that are frequently overlooked in favour of host responses. Understanding these behaviours can improve parasite control through a more precise application or development of new behaviour-based strategies. In aquaculture fish lice are an ongoing problem, infections reduce fishery production and control options are limited. Fish lice are distinct in their ability to survive and swim off hosts, allowing the transmission to multiple fish hosts across their lifespan. Here we assessed the off-host behaviour of Argulus foliaceus (a freshwater fish louse) and observed a diurnal rhythmical pattern in their behaviour. This pattern was lost when lice were exposed to constant darkness, indicating that the behaviour is not endogenously driven. Males were consistently active in light with reduced activity in darkness. In contrast, females were active during light and dark phases with peak activity at the start of dark periods. A. foliaceus was also strongly attracted to a light stimulus, preferring white- and blue-coloured lights over green- or red-coloured lights. Light is a strong driver of fish louse activity and could be used to trap parasites. Aquaculture light regimes could also be altered to reduce parasite attraction and activity.
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