Eye Fluke Parasite in Klamath Sucker Eye

Fish health monitoring efforts in Upper Klamath Lake have revealed a high prevalence of warmwater pathogens. The fish health team is investigating parasites as a potential threat to the vulnerable sucker populations.

Eye flukes (the parasites) have a complex three-host life cycle involving birds, snails, and fish. The parasite travels from bird to snail when the birds poop, from snail to fish when the snails shed the parasite, and from fish back to bird when the fish are blinded by the eye fluke and eaten by water-faring birds.

Here are some photos of the eye flukes from the lab.