Lecithaster Gibbosus Research Articles

A comparison of the parasite fauna of young whiting, Odontogadus merlangus (L.) (Gadidae) from an inshore and an offshore location off the Isle of Man

The occurrence of 12 helminth and 4 crustacean parasites on young whiting 0–2 years old from an inshore (Port Erin Bay) and an offshore (off Bradda Head) area of the Isle of Man were compared. No parasites were found on whiting 4.5–15 mm long and the intestinal digenean Lecithaster gibbosus Rudolphi together with the larvae of the copepod Caligus rapax M. Edwards were the first parasites to appear in whiting 15–42 mm long. This appears to be the only time during the life history of the whiting that C. rapax is of importance as a parasite. In whiting 6 months‐2 years old from off Bradda Head such helminths as the acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi Muller and the digeneans Podocotyle atomon Muller and Cryptocotyle lingua Creplin (metacercariae) were found in significantly fewer fish than in an equivalent group from Port Erin Bay. The differences are correlated with the availability of intermediate hosts and the different food spectra of the two groups of fish and are used to support the theory that inshore and offshore whiting of these age groups form separate populations and that the offshore fish may be more important than the inshore fish in replenishing stocks of older whiting.

Intestinal Helminth Parasites of Northern Sand Lance (Ammodytes dubius)

Six species of helminth parasite were found on examination of intestines of 438 specimens of northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) from various areas of the Nova Scotia Banks. They were: Derogenes varicus, Brachyphallus crenatus, Lecithaster gibbosus, Bothriocephalus scorpii, Contracaecum aduncum, and a cestode (tetraphyllid) larva. Intensity of infestation was low and incidence low to moderate, with little difference between areas. Parasite species composition in A. dubius was similar to that of A. marinus, its European counterpart, but unlike that of A. americanus, the neighboring species to A. dubius in the northwest Atlantic.

Digenetic trematodes from Newfoundland, Canada. 1. Three species from Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758

Three species of digenetic trematodes are recorded from the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758, namely Podocotyle atomon (Rudolphi, 1802), Brachyphallus crenatus (Rudolphi, 1802), and Lecithaster gibbosus (Rudolphi, 1802). The latter two species are new host records for North America.

Life Span, Maturation, and Growth of Two Hemiurid Trematodes, Tubulovesicula lindbergi and Lecithaster gibbosus, in Pacific Salmon (Genus Oncorhynchus)

Studies on the life span, maturation, and growth of two trematodes of the family Hemiuridae were based on periodic sampling of two captive stocks of naturally infected pink and chum salmon. The fish were caught during their 1st month at sea and maintained in filtered sea water to preclude further infection.Tubulovesicula lindbergi (Layman) was found to mature in 2–4 months and live at least 31 months, growing during that time from about 0.6 mm to more than 4.5 mm; Lecithaster gibbosus (Rudolphi) matured in 1–2 weeks and had a life span of about 2–9 months, growing from 0.5 mm to almost 1.9 mm. There was considerable variation in growth rate within each species. Among specimens of L. gibbosus faster growth apparently was associated with a shorter life span. Retardation of growth and maturation at high intensities of T. lindbergi infection is suggested.Evidence is presented in support of the view that the experimental results are applicable to the course of these infections in nature.

Parasite Fauna of Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) of the Bella Coola River, Central British Columbia, During Their Early Sea Life

The acquisition of parasites by pink salmon during their initial phase of marine life is described. The parasites found were the trematodes Lecithaster gibbosus, Parahemiurus merus, and Pentagramma petrowi, the cestode Phyllobothrium sp. larva, and the nematode Contracaecum sp. larva. An attempt is made to account for the occurrence of the more predominant species, particularly the trematode L. gibbosus.