06-25-2018, 03:50 PM
I guess I assumed the parasites I saw in the bluegill were swimmer's itch parasites because I saw the sign at Mantua warning of swimmers itch and also read the following about the black dot parasites (which match what I saw in my fish) stating that they also live in birds and snails as parts of their life cycle. That made me think maybe the black dot parasites were the same as the summer's itch parasites. Maybe I made too big of an assumption.
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/fish/image_gall...ge_id=1806
"Black Spot Disease" is caused by a parasite that has a two-host life cycle with fish as one of those hosts. In fish, it appears as small black specks under the skin and in the muscle which are visible during filleting.
Life cycle:
Adult worms live in the gut of fish-eating birds. Eggs are released from bird feces into the water and are eaten by snails. Then the parasite matures into a free-swimming stage that eventually leaves the snail. This is the infective stage for fish that penetrates the skin and burrows into the flesh, where it remains (as the black spot) until the infected fish are eaten by birds and the life cycle begins again.
Are infected fish safe to eat?
Yes, although unattractive, the fillet is safe for human consumption after it has been thoroughly cooked.
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http://www.ag.auburn.edu/fish/image_gall...ge_id=1806
"Black Spot Disease" is caused by a parasite that has a two-host life cycle with fish as one of those hosts. In fish, it appears as small black specks under the skin and in the muscle which are visible during filleting.
Life cycle:
Adult worms live in the gut of fish-eating birds. Eggs are released from bird feces into the water and are eaten by snails. Then the parasite matures into a free-swimming stage that eventually leaves the snail. This is the infective stage for fish that penetrates the skin and burrows into the flesh, where it remains (as the black spot) until the infected fish are eaten by birds and the life cycle begins again.
Are infected fish safe to eat?
Yes, although unattractive, the fillet is safe for human consumption after it has been thoroughly cooked.
[signature]