The Asian tapeworm is an aquatic intestinal parasite that can infect freshwater fish, particularly in species of carp. This tapeworm can reduce body growth, cause anemia and eventually mortality in infected fish by absorbing the nutrients from its host. The Asian tapeworm has both female and male reproductive organs and can reproduce through self-fertilization. Eggs are released into the water with the host’s fecal material and hatch into freeswimming larvae. The larvae are consumed by crustaceans and infect fish through the consumption of the infected crustaceans.
The Asian tapeworm is native to East Asia and has been introduced in Europe, Australia and the United States. It has been reported to have been found in Manitoba’s Lake Winnipeg.
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