Ligula intestinalis

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Ligula intestinalis
Ligula and Schistocephalus anterior.png
Anterior end of adult Ligula intestinalis (top) and larval Schistocephalus solidus (bottom)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Platyhelminthes
Class:
Cestoda
Order:
Pseudophyllidea
Family:
Diphyllobothriidae
Genus:
Ligula
Species:
L. intestinalis
Binomial name
Ligula intestinalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ligula intestinalis is a tapeworm of fish, fish-eating birds and copepods, with species from each group featuring in its complex life cycle. [1] It is a parasite that changes its intermediate host's behavior to become more vulnerable to its predators. In this case, it uses copepods and cyprinid fish as their intermediate host and develops inside of them to get to its final destination which is fish-eating birds. [2] Plerocercoids, Ligula intestinalis larvae, influence secondary intermediate hosts’ behavior, health, and fecundity. [3] Additionally, this species can cause the gonads of fish to remain undeveloped. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Achim Trubiroha; Sabrina N. Frank; Sven Wuertz; Hana Kroupova; Bernd Sures; Werner Kloas. "Effects of the tapeworm Ligula intestinalis on biomarkers of endocrine disruption (ED) in roach (Cyprinidae, Rutilus rutilus)" (PDF). Cefic Long-range Research Initiative. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  2. ↑ Gabagambi, N. P.; Salvanes, A.-G. V.; Midtøy, F.; Skorping, A. (January 2019). "The tapeworm Ligula intestinalis alters the behavior of the fish intermediate host Engraulicypris sardella, but only after it has become infective to the final host". Behavioural Processes. 158: 47–52. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.002. hdl: 1956/24139 . PMID   30439474.
  3. ↑ Bouzid, W.; Štefka, J.; Hypša, V.; Lek, S.; Scholz, T.; Legal, L.; Hassine, O.; Loot, G. (2008). "Geography and host specificity: Two forces behind the genetic structure of the freshwater fish parasite Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae)". International Journal for Parasitology. 38 (12): 1465–1479. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.03.008.
  4. ↑ Trubiroha, A.; Kroupova, H.; Wuertz, S.; Frank, S.; Sures, B.; Kloas, W. (2009). "Naturally-induced endocrine disruption by the parasite Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda) in roach (Rutilus rutilus)". General and Comparative Endocrinology. 166 (2): 234–240. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2009.08.010.
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