Influence of pollution on parasites of aquatic animals.

Abstract

This workshop draws attention to an increasing body of evidence which supports the view that parasites of aquatic animals are influenced by pollution. Pollutants might promote increased parasitism by impairing the host's immune response or favouring survival and reproduction of intermediate hosts. Decreased parasitism might occur because of toxicity to free-living stages, intermediate hosts or alteration of the host's physiology. Prevalence and intensity of ectoparasites in conjunction with histopathology and concentration of xenobiotics in both fish and parasites appear to be a promising approach. Future research on the interaction of pollution on parasites of animals should focus on a combination of field and laboratory studies, especially exposing fish in cages to polluted water.