Parasites of Western Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon claviformis (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT: Between April 2011 and November 2020, 175 individuals of western creek chubsucker Erimyzon claviformis (Girard) (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) were collected and examined for parasites from 12 sites in the Ouachita, Red, St. Francis, and White river drainages in Arkansas (n = 138 individuals for endoparasites, 22 of same individuals for gill parasites) and from 4 sites in the Red River drainage in Oklahoma (n = 37 individuals for endoparasites, 14 of same individuals for gill parasites). Ninety-nine (57%) were infected with at least 1 parasite, including 2 (6%) of 36 with Piscinoodinium limneticum, 8 (22%) of 36 with 3 different Myxobolus spp., 4 (11%) of 36 with Octomacrum lanceatum, 40 (23%) of 175 with Plagioporus sinitsini, 30 (17%) of 175 with Lissorchis amniculensis, 38 (21%) of 175 with Calientiella etnieri, 3 (2%) of 175 with Isoglaridacris cf. agminis, 10 (6%) of 175 with larval Spiroxys sp., and 1 (0.6%) of 175 with a Neoechinorhynchus sp.; 31 individuals harbored multiple infections. We document several new host and distributional records. Moreover, this report represents only the second published report of the caryophyllid tapeworm C. etnieri since its description more than 46 yr ago.