SITE SPECIFICITY OF GYRODACTYLUS-SALARIS MALMBERG, 1957 (MONOGENEA) ON ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO-SALAR L) IN THE RIVER LAKSELVA, NORTHERN NORWAY

Site specificity of Gyrodactylus salaris on 853 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr infected with 1 - 10 625 parasites was studied in the River Lakselva in northern Norway. At low intensities (< 100), the dorsal fin was the principal site of attachment, followed by the pectoral and anal fins. However, the distribution of parasites on the fish, and their crowding, varied with infection intensity. When the intensity increased to more than 100, more parasites were located on the caudal fin, and when it exceeded 1000, the body of the fish was also heavily infected.