Infection of the River Lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (Petromyzontidae) with Diplostomum petromyzifluviatilis (Diplostomidae) in Some Rivers of Leningrad Oblast

Abstract: Significant differences in the level of infection by Diplostomum petromyzifluviatilis were found between larvae of the European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis from their typical habitats in several rivers of Leningrad oblast. The larval infection rate was high in the rivers where spawners of lamprey with an anadromous life strategy were dominant (Chernaya and Sista rivers). No infected larvae were found in rivers with a predominance of lamprey with a resident strategy (Kamenka and Serebristaya rivers). Presumably, this difference is due to the different organization of ecosystems of the studied rivers.