Corynosoma strumosum (Rud.) and C. semerne (Forssell) (Acanthocephala) as pathogenic parasites of farmed minks in Finland.

Abstract

The acanthocephalan parasites of seals, Corynosoma strumosum (Rud.) and C. semerne (Forssell) were found in one mink farm in the south western archipelago of Finland, where the minks suffered from a bloody and often fatal diarrhoeal anaemia. C. strumosum was found in the two victims of the disease examined, whereas C. semerne occurred in 75·3 per cent of the surviving minks. In a highly anaemic group of minks the mean incidence of C. semerne was 2·9 specimens per animal, whereas the incidence was 1·5 in a mildly anaemic group. The epidemiology of the disease is discussed.