Fish Diseases and Management

4.1.2.4 Acanthocephala

The Acanthocephalans need one invertebrate host for completing their life cycle. They produce eggs which are passed through the faeces and then hatch into an acanthor larva in the intermediate host. The acanthor larva penetrates into host body cavity and develops into acystacanth which, when eaten by a suitable final host, develops into a mature parasite.