Corynosoma wegeneri (Acanthocephala: Polymorphida) and Pseudoterranova decipiens (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) Larvae in Scotian Shelf Groundfish

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Marcogliese, David J., McClelland, Gary
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1992
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-229; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f92-229

We examined larvae of the seal parasites Corynosoma wegeneri and Pseudoterranova decipiens in various fish species collected from Western and Sable Island banks between February 1989 and October 1990. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), yellowtail flounder (Pleuronectes ferrugineus), windowpane (Scophthalmus aquosus), longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus), and sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus) were infected by both parasites, longhorn sculpin being a new host record for C. wegeneri. Only C. wegeneri occurred in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus), and neither parasite was found in northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) or capelin (Mallotus villosus). The two parasites were most numerous in sea raven and longhorn sculpin. Corynosoma wegeneri was more prevalent in fish sampled in 1989–90 than in previous surveys of Atlantic cod and haddock from the Scotian Shelf. Pseudoterranova decipiens and C. wegeneri occurred throughout the sampling area, but small fishes in the vicinity of Sable Island had the heaviest sealworm infections, and both parasites in longhorn sculpin declined with distance from Sable Island. Increases of C. wegeneri in groundfish, like recent increased levels of P. decipiens infection on the Scotian Shelf, can be attributed to the dramatic growth of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) population on Sable Island.