John S. Crane

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.

Two hundred fourteen of 218 American eel, AnguiUa rostrata, from brackish portions of Cooper River, South Carolina, were infected with 1 or more of 22 helminth species representing 4 classes: Trematoda, Cestoda, Nematoda and Acanthocephala. Larval nematodes (Contracaecum sp.) predominated, infecting 95% of eels examined. Seasonal, size- and age-related variations in levels of parasitism by trematodes and cestodes are discussed. Six new host and 7 new locality records are established.