Species Of Parasitic Copepods Research Articles

The first parasitic copepod from a scaphopod mollusc host.

A new genus and species of parasitic copepod, Gadilicola daviesi n. g., n. sp., is described based on material found on two different scaphopod host species collected in deep water (2,900-2,910 m) in the Rockall Trough, North East Atlantic. The copepods inhabit the posterior mantle cavity of their scaphopod hosts, Polyschides olivi (Sacchi) and Pulsellum lofotense (M. Sars). Both sexes are described. The female body comprises an unsegmented prosomal trunk and a 2-segmented urosome and is more modified than that of the smaller male which comprises a 4-segmented prosome and 3-segmented urosome. The pattern of sexual dimorphism of the appendages is characteristic of the poecilostomatoid families within the order Cyclopoida. The form of the antenna with the major claws on the second endopodal segment and with the third segment reduced and displaced laterally, is shared with the informal Teredicola-group of genera, but it lacks the distinctive, derived form of mandible shared by these genera. The new genus is treated as the type of a new monotypic family, the Gadilicolidae.

Golfingicola abyssalis gen. et sp. nov., a new endoparasitic copepod (Crustacea) in a sipunculan from abyssal depths of the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Marine copepods, which inhabit the entire water column down to the seafloor, are key contributors to the food web, mainly providing a food source for many organisms in the form of zooplankton. Furthermore, they also play an important ecological role as associates or even parasites with various degrees of harm to their hosts. Copepods are found in almost all habitats and can be associated with virtually every metazoan group. A female and four males of a new endoparasitic copepod genus and species (Golfingicola abyssalis) are described from the trunk celom of the sipunculan Golfingia muricaudata (Southern, 1913), collected from the abyssal depths of the Northwest Pacific Ocean near the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench. This sipunculan species is a typical deep sea representative of the northwestern Pacific region, occurring in the Bering Sea and the abyssal regions east of the Kuril Island chain. Despite numerous records of this species, a copepod association has not been reported prior to this paper. The new parasitic copepod species is tentatively placed in the Akessonia group given its endoparasitic behavior in Sipuncula, the elongated shape, the enlarged egg strings, and the presence of subchelate antenna, as well as lateral processes in males. Golfingicola abyssalis, however, shows some peculiarities that clearly differentiate it from the remaining endoparasites in Sipuncula. As the first abyssal endoparasite in Sipuncula, the species is characterized by the complete lack of any processes in females, the presence of a mandible in females, a weakly defined prosome–urosome boundary in females, the presence of a mouth in males, the free living behavior of males, a distinctly reduced number of trunk processes in males, as well as a more modified male antenna, displaying an endopodite and a highly modified setal element. A detailed review on the morphological characters of the four species currently grouped in the Akessonia group, and systematic and biogeographic information of their relevant host taxa is provided. On the basis of morphological and ecological similarities, the new species seems to be more closely related to the northern Atlantic Akessonia occulta Bresciani and Luetzen, 1962 than to Siphonobius gephyreicola Augener, 1903 and Coelotrophus nudus Ho et al., 1981.

A New Copepod With Transformed Body Plan and Unique Phylogenetic Position Parasitic in the Acorn Worm Ptychodera flava

Symbiotic copepods compose one-third of the known copepod species and are associated with a wide range of animal groups. Two parasitic copepods endoparasitic in acorn worms (Hemichordata), Ive balanoglossi and Ubius hilli, collected in the Mediterranean Sea and Australian waters, respectively, were described a century ago. Here we report a new parasitic copepod species, Ive ptychoderae sp. nov., found in Ptychodera flava, a widespread acorn worm in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and an emerging organism for developmental and evolutionary studies. The female of I. ptychoderae is characterized by having a reduced maxilliped and five pairs of annular swellings along the body that are morphologically similar but distinguishable from those in the two previously described parasitic copepods in acorn worms. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rDNA sequence shows that I. ptychoderae may belong to Poecilostomatoida but represent a new family, which we name Iveidae fam. nov. Ive ptychoderae is commonly found in the acorn worm population with an average prevalence of 42% during the collecting period. The infection of the parasite induces the formation of cysts and causes localized lesions of the host tissues, suggesting that it may have negative effects on its host. Interestingly, most cysts contain a single female with one or multiple male copepods, suggesting that their sex determination may be controlled by environmental conditions. The relationships between the parasitic copepods and acorn worms thus provide a platform for understanding physiological and ecological influences and coevolution between parasites and hosts.

Parasitic copepods from two species of commercial fishes collected off Iraq, with description of Hatschekia shari n. sp.

Two species of parasitic copepods, including one new species, are described based on specimens collected from off Basrah, Iraq (Arabian Gulf). Hatschekia shari n. sp. (Siphonostomatoida: Hatschekiidae) was found from the gill filaments of the spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål) (Perciformes: Lethrinidae). The new species is characterised by the following characters in the female: a rectangular cephalothorax with dorsal frame composed of two short and one long bifid longitudinal bars, connecting to one short and one long latitudinal bars; elongate, cylindrical trunk without posterolateral processes or lobes; absence of parabasal papillae; and antennae bearing middle segments without narrow median part and with terminal claws without basal conical processes. Bactrochondria formosana Ho, Lin & Liu, 2011 (Cyclopoida: Chondracanthidae) was found on the gill filaments of the largescale tonguesole Cynoglossus arel (Bloch & Schneider) (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae). Close comparison of the specimens of B. formosana collected from off Iraq with the original description revealed some differences in elements and ornamentations on the body and appendages. Our finding of B. formosana represents not only a new record from the Indian Ocean but also from a new host.

Chondracanthid copepod parasites of dories (Zeiformes: Zeidae) with the description of a new species of Chondracanthus from waters off northern Argentina

A new species of parasitic copepod, Chondracanthus hoi sp. n. (Copepoda: Chondracanthidae), is described based on specimens of both sexes collected from the buccal cavity and gill arches of the silvery john dory, Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe) (Zeiformes: Zeidae), from waters off northern Argentina (35-36 degrees S, 53-54 degrees W). Female of C. hoi differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of five pairs of trunk processes, antennule with four knobs tipped with small setae and absence of denticles on the terminal process of maxilla. Chondracanthids and zeiform fishes have been proposed as an example of co-speciation; this assumption is derived from a series of analyses based on incomplete records of both geographical distribution and host range of some parasite species, as well as misidentification offish hosts. These inconsistences observed during our bibliographical analyses are also discussed.

Diversity of sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on marine fishes with commercial and aquaculture importance in Chamela Bay, Pacific coast of Mexico by using morphology and DNA barcoding, with description of a new species of Caligus

The occurrence of parasitic copepods of the family Caligidae on wild and cultured marine fishes from Chamela Bay, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, is reported. A total of 16 species of Caligus and 1 species of Lepeophtheirus were found on 19 wild fish species. The description of Caligus chamelensis n. sp. parasitizing Kyphosus elegans is presented. Among the species of Caligus reported here, Caligus serratus is the most common since it was found infecting 11 fish species. On cultured fish, Lutjanus gutattus and L. peru, only one species of Caligus, C. sclerotinosus was collected. DNA barcodes [mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences] were obtained for the majority of the sea lice species herein reported. The molecular analyses support the recognition of the new species and suggest that neither Caligus nor Lepeophtheirus are monophyletic. COI is shown to be a good candidate for parasitic copepod species identification, although a more robust reference database is needed to expand our ability to accomplish a molecular identification.

English

  Fish parasitology is an indispensable tool in aquatic health studies and a basic understanding of richness of a community parasitism in many localities is essential for instituting control. Many copepod parasites are ecto-parasites which negatively affect the appearance and reduced production of species of economically important fish, both from the wild and fish farms, thus making them difficult to market. In this study, copepod parasitic investigation was carried out in gills of 856 fish mugilidae (Mugil cephalus and Liza falcipinnis) in three stations (Ganvie, Djdje and Zogbo) of Lac Nokoue lagoon. In the three stations, three species of parasitic copepod were found: Nipergasilus bora, Ergasilus latus and Ergasilus lizae. The highest total percentage copepod prevalence was found in Ganvie (86.23%) and the least in Djdje (63.14%). There is significant difference (P<0.05) in the rate of infestation of L. falcipinnis at Djdje than the other two stations, where as M. cephalus shows no significant difference in the rate of infestation in the three stations. The research reveals higher number of parasite copepods during the rainy season.     Key words: Copepod parasites, Mugilidae fish, Lac Nokoue Lagoon.

Occurrence of parasitic copepods in Carangid fishes from Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India.

In the present study, 68 fishes were infested out of 544 specimens examined from six different species of Carangid fishes which were collected from Parangipettai coastal waters. Eight species of parasitic copepods were found on gill filaments, body surface and nasal capsule regions. The maximum prevalence was recorded in Carangoides malabaricus (22.5%) and minimum was noticed in (2.4%) Selaroides leptolepis. The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 1.2. Thus, considerable variation in the respiratory area was observed owing to the attachment of parasites in the infected fishes. Caligus sp. and C. epidemicus parasites were attached to body surface and only one Sphyriid sp. parasites were found in nasal capsule region. It is very difficult to estimate the actual harm to fish caused by the presence of parasites; if this is uneasy in cultured fish, it is almost impossible in feral fish populations. It should also be emphasized that the presence of a parasite does not necessarily imply manifestation of a disease. In aquaculture, some parasites are able to reproduce rapidly and heavily infect a large proportion of fish which may lead to diseases with significant economic consequences.

Choniomyzon inflatus n. sp. (Crustacea: Copepoda: Nicothoidae) associated with Ibacus novemdentatus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Scyllaridae) from Japanese waters

A new species of parasitic copepod, Choniomyzon inflatus n. sp., is described based on specimens collected from the external egg masses of the smooth fan lobster Ibacus novemdentatus Gibbes captured in the North Pacific Ocean off Ainan, Ehime Prefecture, western Japan. The new species differs from its congeners in having a globular to ovoid prosome, in bearing asymmetrically arranged denticles at a rounded apex of both the terminal segment of the antenna and the maxilliped, and in lacking serrate lobes on the basis of legs 1 and 2. The species is similar in size and shape to the host's eggs, which may be interpreted as egg mimicry. The new species is the first member of Choniomyzon Pillai, 1962 from subtropical regions.

Parasitic copepods from some northern Indian Ocean elasmobranchs

Twelve parasitic copepod species representing two families were opportunistically recorded from the skin of 13 elasmobranch species captured in the coastal waters of Oman. New host records include Alebion carchariae, Pandarus smithii and Pandarus cranchii on Carcharhinus amboinensis; Echthrogaleus denticulatus on Alopias superciliosus and Sphyrna lewini; Pandarus carcharhini on Carcharhinus altimus; Pseudopandarus longus on Carcharhinus sorrah; Caligus dasyaticus on Glaucostegas halavi. Previous records of Pseudopandarus australis are limited to the Pacific Ocean, and its occurrence in the northern Indian Ocean represents a large range extension.

<p class="SP151588"><strong>Bomolochid copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda: Bomolochidae) parasitizing immigrant and native barracuda (Actinopterygii: Sphyraenidae) caught off the Egyptian Mediterranean coast</strong></p>

Two species of parasitic copepods (Family Bomolochidae) are reported from two species of barracudas (Family Sphyraenidae) caught in Mediterranean waters off Alexandria, Egypt. Nothobomolochus denticulatus (Bassett- Smith, 1898) is recorded on yellowstripe barracuda, Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, which is an immigrant from the Red Sea that has become established in the Mediterranean. This is a new geographical record of N. denticulatus from the Mediterranean and the female of N. denticulatus is redescribed in detail. Bomolochus unicirrus Brian, 1902 is recorded on European barracuda, Sphyraena sphyraena (L.), a fish native to the Mediterranean, and slight differences between this material and material from the Atlantic, off Mauritania, are noted.

Free-living stages of three species of parasitic copepods (Siphonostomatoida, Eudactylinidae) reared from eggs, with discussion on the ontogenetic features in the Siphonostomatoida

Five naupliar stages and the infective copopodid stage of Eudactylina dasiati Izawa, 2011, Dangoka japonica Izawa, 2011, and an unidentified eudactylinid species are described based on free-living larvae reared from eggs detached from ovigerous females, which were recovered from the branchial lamellae of Japanese elasmobranchs, Dasyatis akajei (Muller & Henle, 1841) (Dasyatidae), Rhinobatos schlegelii Muller & Henle, 1841 (Rhinobatidae), and Alopias vulpine (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Alopiidae), respectively. These species of Eudactylinidae, along with Gangliopus pyriformis Gerstaecker, 1854 (Pandaridae) are the only Siphonostomatoida known to have five naupliar stages prior to the infective copepodid I. Naupliar morphology and the antennular segmentation in the Siphonostomatoida are discussed. Siphonostomatoid nauplii may possess six caudal elements and limb buds of the maxillae, maxillipeds, and two legs, but not maxillules. In the Siphonostomatoida, the naked first antennular segment of the nauplius may be retained to the adult stage.

New records of parasitic copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda) from marine fishes in the Argentinean Sea

Increasing knowledge of the biodiversity of parasitic copepods in the Argentinean Sea will provide a baseline against which changes in the distribution of marine biota can be detected. We provide new information on the distribution of 13 known species of parasitic copepods gathered from 11 species of marine fishes from Argentinean Sea, including 7 new host records and 9 new locality records. These species are: Bomolochus globiceps (Vervoort et Ramírez, 1968) and Nothobomolochus cresseyi Timi et Sardella, 1997 (Bomolochidae Sumpf, 1871); Brasilochondria riograndensis Thatcher et Pereira, 2004 (Chondracanthidae Milne Edwards, 1840); Taeniacanthus lagocephali Pearse, 1952 (Taeniacanthidae Wilson, 1911); Caligus rogercresseyi Boxshall et Bravo, 2000 and Metacaligus uruguayensis (Thomsen, 1949) (Caligidae Burmeister, 1835); Hatschekia conifera Yamaguti, 1939 (Hatschekiidae Kabata, 1979); Clavellotis pagri (Krøyer, 1863), Clavella adunca (Strøm, 1762), Clavella bowmani Kabata, 1963 and Parabrachiella amphipacifica Ho, 1982 (Lernaeopodidae Milne Edwards, 1840), and Lernanthropus leidyi Wilson, 1922 and Lernanthropus caudatus Wilson, 1922 (Lernanthropidae Kabata, 1979). A list of host species lacking parasitic copepods, for which large samples were investigated by the authors, is also provided in order to compare in future surveys.

A new copepod (Siphonostomatoida: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on a Red Sea immigrant dragonet (Actinopterygii: Callionymidae), with a review of records of parasitic copepods from dragonets

A new species of parasitic copepod of the family Lernanthropidae is described from an immigrant population of the blotchfin dragonet Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes (family Callionymidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both sexes are described on the basis of material caught in Egyptian waters off the Alexandria coast at Abuqir. The new species shares with Lernanthropus breviculus Kabata, 1979 the possession of a small dorsal plate on the trunk that is so narrow at its origin that it does not overlap the bases of the fourth legs, which are therefore visible in dorsal view. These species differ in the shape of the cephalothorax and in the extent of the dorsal plate, which is shorter in the new species, revealing the caudal rami in dorsal view. Previous records of parasitic copepods utilising callionymids as hosts are reviewed: most belong to the families Pennellidae and Chondracanthidae.

Redescription of Dinemoura discrepans Cressey, 1967 (Copepoda: Pandaridae) parasitic on four species of sharks off southeast coast of Taiwan

Dinemoura discrepans Cressey, 1967 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Pandaridae) is redescribed based on the specimens taken from four species of sharks caught off the southeast coast of Taiwan. The four species of sharks are: pelagic thresher, Alopias pelagicus Nakamura; bigeye thresher, A. superciliosus Lowe; blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus (Müller et Henle); and oceanic whitetip shark, C. longimanus (Poey). Although our redescription shows certain differences from the original description, after reexamination of the museum specimens studied by R. F. Cressey in making the original description, it was confirmed that the specimens from off Taiwan are identifiable with D. discrepans. Carcharhinus limbatus is currently known to host 19 species of parasitic copepods, of which D. discrepans is the first one of this copepod genus.

Two new species of parasitic copepods (Crustacea) on two immigrant rabbitfishes (Family Siganidae) from the Red Sea

Two new species of parasitic copepods, one from each of the families Hatschekiidae and Bomolochidae, are reported from two immigrant species of rabbitfishes (Family Siganidae), both of which originated from the Red Sea but are now established in the Mediterranean. The descriptions of Hatschekia siganicola n. sp. and Nothobomolochus neomediterraneus n. sp. are based on material of both sexes obtained from the gills of Siganus luridus Rüppell and S. rivulatus Forsskål, respectively, caught in Egyptian Mediterranean waters off the Alexandrian coast.

Seasonality of Parasitic Copepods on Bullseye Puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Pisces: Tetraodontidae), From the Northwestern Coast of Mexico

Seasonal occurrence of parasitic copepods in wild bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Pisces: Tetraodontidae), was analyzed in conjunction with variation of biotic and abiotic factors. Eleven samples were taken between February 2007 and February 2008 in Santa María La Reforma lagoon (northwestern coast of México). In total, 337 fish was examined; 5 parasitic copepod species were observed, including Acantholochus zairae , Caligus serratus , Lepeophtheirus simplex , Pseudochondracanthus diceraus , and Parabrachiella sp. The most common species were L. simplex , P. diceraus, and C. serratus (overall prevalence, 59, 53, and 35%, respectively), which significantly varied in prevalence and mean intensity between sampling months. A seasonal pattern was only observed for L. simplex, with higher infection levels in the warmest month than in the coldest month. Statistical analyses indicated that the intensity of L. simplex was positively correlated with water temperature. There were no significant differences in prevalence and intensity of infection among female and male hosts. At the component community level, species richness ranged between 4 and 5 during most of the study period, and no seasonality was observed in the number of individuals, Shannon diversity index, evenness index, or the Berger-Parker dominance index. At the infracommunity level, 4 descriptors used (mean species richness, mean number of individuals, mean Brillouin's diversity index, and mean Berger-Parker index) varied significantly between sampling months, but no seasonality was observed, except for a slight increase in the number of individuals during the warmest month. A significant positive association was detected between number of individuals and water temperature and between host size and both species richness and number of individuals. This is the first account of the ecology of these 5 parasitic copepods. Although no significant association was detected between fish condition factor and the burden of parasitic copepods, given the high occurrence of the caligid copepod L. simplex , we suggest that this copepod could represent a threat for the culture of S. annulatus .

Parasitic copepods on immigrant and native clupeid fishes caught in Egyptian coastal waters off Alexandria

Three species of parasitic copepods, one each from the siphonostomatoid families Lernanthropidae and Lernaeopodidae and one from the cyclopoid family Bomolochidae, are redescribed based on material collected from the gills of four fish species belonging to the family Clupeidae caught from coastal waters off Alexandria, Egypt. The recorded parasites are: Mitrapus oblongus (Pillai, 1964), found on Etrumeus teres (Dekay), an immigrant species from the Red Sea, and on Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, a native Mediterranean species; Clavellisa ilishae Pillai, 1962 found only on S. aurita; and Nothobomolochus fradei Marques, 1965 found on Herklotsichthys punctatus (Rüppell), an immigrant species from the Red Sea, and on Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum), a native Mediterranean species. The first two of these copepods have been reported before on clupeid hosts from the Indian Ocean. The third was known from the eastern South Atlantic and the Arabian Gulf. None of the copepods has previously been recorded in the Mediterranean. All of the parasites reported here constitute new records for these hosts. Two of the hosts are Erythrean (=Lessepsian) immigrants and were caught in Mediterranean waters off the Egyptian coast. The original description of N. fradei (Marques, 1965) is inadequate by modern standards. This species is fully described here for the first time. The male of M. oblongus was briefly described by Pillai (1964), but its mouthparts are described in detail here for the first time.

Redescription of Eight Species of Parasitic Copepods (Siphonostomatoida, Pandaridae) Infecting Japanese Elasmobranchs

[Eight species of pandarid copepods are redescribed based on specimens recovered from six species of Japanese elasmobranchs. These are Pandarus cranchii Leach, 1819, P . smithii Rathbun, 1886, Gangliopus pyriformis Gerstaecker, 1854, Pseudopandarus gracilis Kirtisinghe, 1950, Dinemoura latifolia (Steenstrup & Lutken, 1861), Echthrogaleus coleoptratus (Guerin-Meneville, 1837), E . denticulatus Smith, 1874, and Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868. In P . cranchii , both sexes of copepodid IV and V are described, one of them retains the frontal filament. The postnaupliar juveniles preceding the adult are referred to here as copepodid stages instead of chalimus. The presence of the postantennal process was verified in all species here dealt with, though it is replaced by an additional adhesion pad in D . latifolia . The depression, seemingly acting as the sucker, was found in N . orientalis on the female leg 3 basis. Huit especes de copepodes Pandaridae sont redecrits a partir de specimens preleves chez six especes d'Elasmobranches, au Japon. Ce sont: Pandarus cranchii Leach, 1819, P . smithii Rathbun, 1886, Gangliopus pyriformis Gerstaecker, 1854, Pseudopandarus gracilis Kirtisinghe, 1950, Dinemoura latifolia (Steenstrup & Lutken, 1861), Echthrogaleus coleoptratus (Guerin-Meneville, 1837), E . denticulatus Smith, 1874 et Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868. Chez P . cranchii , les copepodites IV et V des deux sexes sont decrits, l'un d'entre eux presente le filament frontal. Les juveniles post-naupliens precedant l'adulte sont consideres ici comme des stades copepoditiques plutot que comme des stades chalimus. La presence du processus post-antennaire a ete verifiee chez toutes les especes etudiees ici, bien qu'il soit remplace par un coussinet adhesif additionnel chez D. latifolia . La depression, agissant apparemment comme une ventouse a ete observee chez N . orientalis sur le basis de la troisieme patte de la femelle. , Eight species of pandarid copepods are redescribed based on specimens recovered from six species of Japanese elasmobranchs. These are Pandarus cranchii Leach, 1819, P . smithii Rathbun, 1886, Gangliopus pyriformis Gerstaecker, 1854, Pseudopandarus gracilis Kirtisinghe, 1950, Dinemoura latifolia (Steenstrup & Lutken, 1861), Echthrogaleus coleoptratus (Guerin-Meneville, 1837), E . denticulatus Smith, 1874, and Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868. In P . cranchii , both sexes of copepodid IV and V are described, one of them retains the frontal filament. The postnaupliar juveniles preceding the adult are referred to here as copepodid stages instead of chalimus. The presence of the postantennal process was verified in all species here dealt with, though it is replaced by an additional adhesion pad in D . latifolia . The depression, seemingly acting as the sucker, was found in N . orientalis on the female leg 3 basis. Huit especes de copepodes Pandaridae sont redecrits a partir de specimens preleves chez six especes d'Elasmobranches, au Japon. Ce sont: Pandarus cranchii Leach, 1819, P . smithii Rathbun, 1886, Gangliopus pyriformis Gerstaecker, 1854, Pseudopandarus gracilis Kirtisinghe, 1950, Dinemoura latifolia (Steenstrup & Lutken, 1861), Echthrogaleus coleoptratus (Guerin-Meneville, 1837), E . denticulatus Smith, 1874 et Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868. Chez P . cranchii , les copepodites IV et V des deux sexes sont decrits, l'un d'entre eux presente le filament frontal. Les juveniles post-naupliens precedant l'adulte sont consideres ici comme des stades copepoditiques plutot que comme des stades chalimus. La presence du processus post-antennaire a ete verifiee chez toutes les especes etudiees ici, bien qu'il soit remplace par un coussinet adhesif additionnel chez D. latifolia . La depression, agissant apparemment comme une ventouse a ete observee chez N . orientalis sur le basis de la troisieme patte de la femelle. ]

Endohelminths of a Snake Mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), from the Gulf of Mexico

Endohelminths are reported from a female snake mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), captured from a depth of 61 m in the Gulf of Mexico 140 km south of the mouth of Mobile Bay, AL, in August 1998. A diverse endohelminth parasite fauna was found: 29 plerocercoid type I tetraphyllideans from the lower intestine; 4 didymozoid metacercariae allocated to the collective group Monilicaecum and one didymozoid metacercaria of the collective group Torticaecum from the pyloric cecum; one juvenile Gonocerca phycidis from the stomach; and 5 larvae (L3 stage) comprising 3 species of Anisakis from the pyloric cecum. These nematodes were identified as species of Anisakis due to the presence of an oblong ventriculus lacking an appendix, no intestinal cecum or interlabia, 3 lips with dentigerous ridges, and an excretory pore located between the lateroventral lips. Differences in overall size and in the lengths of the ventriculus and esophagus in relation to total body length were used to distinguish the 3 species of Anisakis collected. Seven specimens of a possibly unnamed species of parasitic copepod representing Bomolochus infected the gill chamber. Stomach contents included 6 early-juvenile flatfish (Pleuronectiformes). All of the helminths are measured and illustrated, and for some of the parasites recovered, we are unaware of any reports from this host species.