Parasite putting recovery of otter at risk

 

An alien parasite first found in Britain two years ago after being introduced in imported fish has spread rapidly amongst otters.

The bile fluke, a type of aquatic flatworm, has been found in otters across southern Britain from Devon to Norfolk.

Somerset is the worst affected area and researchers are trying to establish if the parasite was responsible for the abnormally high otter death toll in the county.

The bile fluke, Pseudamphis-tomum truncatum, is thought to have been brought to Britain in ornamental fish from Eastern Europe which escaped from a Dorset garden centre.

Since it was first identified in 2005 it has become widespread among otters and at least one mink, an introduced species, has been found with the flatworm. Otters with the parasite suffer gall bladder and liver damage, often causing jaundice, but researchers have still to find how many have been killed by the flatworm.

The bile fluke is, it is feared, damaging the recovery of otters, in terms of range and numbers, since coming close to being wiped out in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s.

Vic Simpson, founder of the Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre in Cornwall, said it is not just otters under threat from the parasite: “It could kill pet cats and dogs.”