Experimental Infection of Atlantic Cod with a Larval Marine Nematode from Smelt

Atlantic cod (Gadus callarias) and at least 13 other species of fish in Canadian Atlantic waters are intermediate hosts for a larval nematode (Porrocaecum decipiens). It is pointed out that large cod feed occasionally on infected species of fish and that, as a result, they may become infected. Exper...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Main Author: Scott, D. M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1954
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f54-050
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f54-050
Description
Summary:Atlantic cod (Gadus callarias) and at least 13 other species of fish in Canadian Atlantic waters are intermediate hosts for a larval nematode (Porrocaecum decipiens). It is pointed out that large cod feed occasionally on infected species of fish and that, as a result, they may become infected. Experiments showed that when larval Porrocaecum from smelt (Osmerus mordax) were fed to cod, some worms passed through the wall of the stomach, crossed the coelom, and penetrated the hypaxonic muscle of the cod. It was concluded that Porrocaecum larvae, under natural conditions, are also able to pass from one species of fish to another.