Hematozoa of deep-sea demersal fish of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
A total of 410 deep-sea demersal fish comprising 54 species was taken at depths of 1000–3200 m from two locations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and examined for hematozoans. Prevalences of 29% of the total fish and 61% of the species examined were observed. Piroplasms (Haemohormidium spp.) were th...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1992
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-262 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z92-262 |
| Summary: | A total of 410 deep-sea demersal fish comprising 54 species was taken at depths of 1000–3200 m from two locations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and examined for hematozoans. Prevalences of 29% of the total fish and 61% of the species examined were observed. Piroplasms (Haemohormidium spp.) were the most common parasites (26% infection), with hemogregarine, trypanosome, and cryptobia infections being considerably lower. Haemogregarina marshalllairdi sp.nov. is described from Nezumia bairdi and Macrourus berglax. An enigmatic intraerythrocytic parasite was observed in one fish. A comparison of prevalences of the infections in fish living in the deep sea, on the continental shelf, and in inshore areas indicates that the percentages of fish species infected are comparable in the three areas and that the prevalence of piroplasm infections is greater in the deep-sea locations. It is likely that transmission of hematozoans, probably by hematophagous leeches, in the deep-sea demersal zone is similar to that on the continental shelf, despite the dramatic changes in biological and physico-chemical factors with increasing depth. |
|---|