The Incidence of Nematodes in the Fillets of Small God from Lockeport, Nova Scotia, and the Southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Abstract

The incidence of nematodes in fillets of Atlantic cod (Gadus callarias) was determined in 1957 in four areas within 10 miles of Lockeport, N.S., and in six areas in the southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence. About 1,500 cod, mostly between 1 and 6 years of age, were examined. All nematodes examined (517) were larvae. About 97% belonged to the genus Porrocaecum; the remainder appeared to belong to the genus Anisakis. In all areas there was a progressive increase in incidence with increasing age of cod. In age-groups IV and V usually more than 70% of the cod were infected. Considerable local variation in incidence was observed in the Lockeport region. Cod were more heavily infected in inshore than in offshore waters. The samples from the Gulf of St. Lawrence showed less geographic variation in incidence than the Lockeport samples. The incidence in cod from the Magdalen Islands was noticeably lower than that in cod from the New Brunswick shore. Cod in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were infected to about the same extent as those from the offshore areas near Lockeport. The relation between local variations in incidence and the distribution of seals is briefly discussed.