Some Helminth Parasites of Canadian Pacific Whales

Abstract

The following helminth parasites have been recorded from Cetacea caught off the British Columbia coast. Trematoda: Lecithodesmus goliath (fin whale), Lecithodesmus spinosus n. sp. (sei whale) and Ogmogaster plicatus (fin and sei whales); Cestoda: Phyllobothrium delphini (sperm and fin whales); Nematoda: Anisakis simplex (sei, Baird's beaked and sperm whales), Anisakis physeteris (sperm whale), immature Anisakis sp. (fin and humpback whales) and Crassicauda pacifica n. sp. (fin whale); Acanthocephala: Bolbosoma turbinella (sei whale). Crassicauda pacifica and L. spinosus are illustrated and described, and compared with known species of their respective genera. The variations in morphology and measurements are discussed for O. plicatus. Notes on host and geographical distribution are cited for all parasites. Lecithodesmus goliath and O. plicatus are reported for the first time from the Pacific and P. delphini was previously unknown in the North Pacific. Bolbosoma turbinella is a new record for the northeast Pacific and A. physeteris for the Pacific coast of Canada. Baird's beaked whale and possibly the sperm whale are new host records for A. simplex. The fin whale is a new host record for P. delphini and L. goliath.