Biology
Age/Growth
Spawning
| Diseases |
The parasite most often seen and of concern to anglers is the strigeid fluke Uvulifer ambloplitis. The externally encysted stage of this trematode, called black-spot, is often present in extreme numbers on individual pike. This parasite is not transferable to man, is readily killed by adequate cooking or removed by skinning the fish.
This species also suffers from a septicaemic "red sore" disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas hydrophila, which is also responsible for the condition in frogs known as "red leg." In northern pike it results in ugly red necrotic lesions involving the muscle tissue (Margolis 1951). The pike also are subject to neoplastic tumors that are true cancerous lymphosarcoma. Both render the fish unsightly and can cause concern to those who catch the infected fish. Neither of these "diseases" is known to be transferable by contact to man.
Two tapeworm parasites, the broad fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum)
and the Cestode (Triaenophorus crassus) have a direct and indirect
effect on man. T. Crassus, for which the pike is the final host, encysts
at an earlier age in the musculature of the lake whitefish, rendering
the flesh of that species unacceptable by law for human consumption. Annually,
thousands of pounds of whitefish must be discarded as a result of this
parasite. The broad fish tapeworm in certain areas infects pike and if
the flesh is inadequately cooked, then eaten, this parasite can be transferred
to man.