Frequency distribution and host-parasite relationships of Zschokkella leptatherinae (Myxozoa: Myxiidae), a parasite of atherinid fishes

The frequency distribution and aspects of host-parasite relationship of the myxosporean Zschokkella leptatherinae Su and White (1995) in the hepatic ducts and gall bladder of two atherinid fishes, Atherinosoma microstoma (Günther) and Leptatherina presbyteroides (Richardson), were studied from January 1990 to June 1992. In both fish species, the distribution of Z. leptatherinae fitted the log-normal model. The prevalence and intensity of infection did not vary seasonally. The infection of the parasite occurred more frequently in larger hosts in both fish species but no relationship existed either between the intensity of parasite infection and the size of fish or between the prevalence of parasite infection and sex of fish.