Metazoan Ectoparasitic Fauna of American Eels from Brackish Water

Approximately 48% of 211 American eel, Anguilla rostrata, collected from brackish portions of Cooper River, South Carolina, were infested with 1 or more ectoparasitic species representing 2 classes, Monogenea and Crustacea. Seasonal and host size- and age-related variations in the levels of parasitism of Ergasilus cerastes and E. celestis were observed. These variations in levels of parasitism are discussed with a proposed life history for E. cerastes in southern waters.