First Report of Branchiobdella astaci Odier, 1823 (Annelida: Clitellata) in Greece, with an Overview of its Geographical Distribution in Europe and an Assessment of its Pathogenicity on the Host

摘要

Two specimens of Austropotamobius torrentium (Schrank, 1803) (Decapoda: Astacidae) collected in Agkistros Stream, a tributary of the River Strymonas (Bulgarian name: Struma), Greece, were examined for branchiobdellidans. As a result, numerous Branchiobdella pentadonta Whitman, 1882 were found in the debris of the jars where the crayfishes were fixed and nine B. astaci Odier, 1823 were found in the gill chamber of one of these crayfishes. Many cocoons, presumably of B. astaci, were found in the gill chambers of both crayfishes. While B. pentadonta is already known from Greece, B. astaci is reported for the first time in that country. In addition, an overview of the geographical distribution of B. astaci in Europe is presented and pathogenicity of this species on its host is discussed.