Infection of brown trout with Diphyllobothrium dendriticum procercoids

The aims of this experimental study were to develop a practical method of controlling the number of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum procercoids delivered to a fish host; to examine the effect of different procercoid doses (3, 7 and 15) on the plerocercoid level in fish; and to examine the potential mortality caused by plerocercoids. The experiment was terminated after 2 months. The prevalence of infection at the lowest dose level, 17.2%, was statistically significantly lower than at medium and high levels, 63.3% and 56.7%, respectively. The mean intensity increased slightly along with the dosage. The contribution of D. dendriticum to the death of a few fish could not be proved. It is concluded that the present method is practical for use in larger experiments as well.