Cucullanus

Abstract: Parasites of 136 specimens of Hemisorubim platyrhynchos, popularly called jurupoca, were analyzed. Fourteen parasite species were recorded: four digeneans (Crocodilicola pseudostoma, one Gorgoderidae species, Sanguinicola platyrhynchi, and Sphincterodiplostomum sp.); three cestodes (Goezeella paranaensis, Spatulifer maringaensis, and Mariauxiella piscatorum); five nematodes (Contracaecum Type 1 larvae of Moravec, Kohn, & Fernandes, 1993; Contracaecum Type 2 larvae of Moravec, Kohn, & Fernandes, 1993; Cucullanus (Cucullanus) zungaro; Eustrongylides ignotus; and Goezia sp.); one acanthocephalan (Quadrigyrus machadoi), and one pentastomid (Sebekia sp.). Most of the helminth specimens were found in larval stages, confirming that H. platyrhynchos is a significant source of their transmission. No dominance was reported. With the exception of Contracaecum Type 2 (featuring random dispersion), the species had a clumped pattern of dispersion in the host sample. Evidence of competition among parasite species was not reported. Several species of parasites were correlated with host size and sex. This fact may be explained by increase in food content and possible behavioral modifications of male and female hosts. Infracommunity diversity was not related to host size or sex.

Abstract: Eight hundred and thirty nine short‐finned eels, Anguilla australis Richardson, 1848, and 459 long‐finned eels, A. dieffenbachii Gray, 1842, from the wild from 34 localities around New Zealand were examined for parasites. Thirty parasitic species were encountered, of which 26 were considered common and 4 accidental parasites of eels. Widespread and common were Myxidium zealandicum Hine, 1975, Myxobolus sp., Chloromyxum sp., Stegodex‐ amene anguillae Macfarlane, 1951, Telogaster opisthorchis Macfarlane, 1945, Phyllodistomum sp., Paracardicoloides yamagutii Martin, 1974, Cucullanus sp., Procamaflanus sp., and glochidia of Hyridella sp. Widespread but intermittent in distribution were Myxidium serum Hine, 1975, Myxidium acinum Hine, 1975, Paraquimperia sp., Hedruris spinigera Baylis, 1931, Eustrongy‐ lides sp., and Accmthocephalus galaxii Hine, 1977. Rarely encountred or limited in distribution were Thelohanellus sp., Henneguya sp., Coitocaecum anaspidis Hickman, 1934, Coito‐caecum zealandicum Hine,...

Abstract: Two cestodes, nine nematodes, five acanthocephalans, seven digeneans, two isopods and a copepod were recorded from approximately 200 flathead fishes, of seven species, from the north coast of New South Wales during 1977–79, from estuaries to depths of 300 m. Descriptions are given of two new species of nematodes (Raphidascaroides fisheri, sp. nov., and Spirocamallanus platycephali, sp. nov.) one new acanthocephalan (Rhadinorhynchus bicircumspinis, sp. nov.), female of an unknown Raorhynchus sp., larvae of Raphidascaris or Raphidascaroides and Echinocephalus spp.. and digeneans of Lecithochirium sp, and Cryptogonimidae. New host and/or locality records are given for female Philometra pellucida, a male Cucullanus armatus, digeneans Erilepturus platycephali, Erilepturus sp.. Aponurus laguncula, Didymozoon brevicolle, Prosorhynchus tsengi, the copepod Pterochondria alatalongicollis, isopods Nerocila laticauda, Codonophilus imbricatus, and larval species of Aybelinia, Anisakis (I), Thynnascaris (III and IV): Serrasentis sagiftifer, Gorgorhynchus celebesensis, Corynosoma clavatum and a phyllobothrid cestode. Parasites were used as biological indicators of their hosts' habitat, feeding behaviour and trophic level; ecological specificity was important for parasite infection in flathead fishes. Macrohabitat distributions of hosts, as shown by diet and locality. was also important to parasite species; parasite faunas of estuarine P. fuscus and oceanic P. bassensis contrasted markedly. In P. bassensis, populations of all parasites except P. pellucida were overdispersed (clumped); host age seemed the most significant contributory factor. Some species of parasite, e.g. digeneans, were site-specific but others (most larval species) were distributed over large areas of the gut showing considerable overlap. The effects of P. pellucida upon its habitat (the gonads) were examined briefly, and some aspects of this worm's ecology were investigated.

Abstract: Although numerous studies on parasites of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L. have been conducted in the North Atlantic, comparative analyses on local cod parasite faunas are virtually lacking. The present study is based on examination of large samples of cod from six geographical areas of the North East Atlantic which yielded abundant baseline data on parasite distribution and abundance. A total of 826 fish was sampled in the Baltic, Celtic, Irish and North seas, Icelandic waters and Trondheimsfjord (Norway) in 2002 (spring and autumn) and 2003 (spring). The gills and internal organs (oesophagus, stomach, intestine, pyloric caeca, liver, heart, spleen, gall bladder and gonads) were examined for macroparasites following a standardised protocol. The taxonomic consistency of the identification was ensured thorough the entire study. We discuss some problems in parasite identification, outline the composition of the parasite faunas in cod in the six North East Atlantic regions, provide novel data on parasite prevalence and abundance and a comparative assessment of the structure of the regional parasite faunas with respect to the higher-level taxonomic groupings, host specificity and zoogeographical distribution of the parasites. Altogether 57 different parasite forms were found including seven new host records (Diclidophora merlangi, Rhipidocotyle sp., Fellodistomum sp., Steringotrema sp., Cucullanus sp., Spinitectus sp., and Chondracanthus ornatus). The predominant groups of cod parasites were trematodes (19 species) and nematodes (13 species) including larval anisakids which comprised 58.2% of the total number of individuals. Our study reveals relatively rich regional parasite faunas in cod from the North East Atlantic which are dominated by generalist parasites with Arcto-Boreal distribution. Further, it provides more detailed data on the distribution in the North East Atlantic of the majority of cod parasites which may serve as baselines for future studies on the effect of climate change. Based on the faunal comparisons, predictions can be made in relation to the structure and diversity of the parasite communities in the North East Atlantic regions studied.

Abstract: Twelve species of parasitic helminths, seven trematodes, four nematodes and one acanthocephalan are reported from various hosts. Creptotrema lynchi, a parasite from Bufo marinus in Colombia, is described for the first time in fish and from Brazil, parasitizing two different species. A list of the host species, measurements and figures of most parasites are included with particular reference to the tegument of Bellumcorpus major recovered from a new host. The genus Zonocotyloides Padilha, 1978 is considered a synonym of Zonocotyle and the new combination: Zonocotyle haroltravassosi is proposed to the species Zonocotyloides haroltravassosi Padilha, 1978. The nematodes Cucullanus pinnai and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus and the trematode Pararhipidocotyle jeffersoni are reported in new hosts. The description of the acanthocephalan Neoechinorhynchus curemais (new locality record) is supplemented. Other parasites recovered include the nematodes Travnema travnema (new locality record), Rondonia rondoni and the digenetic trematodes Cladocystis intestinalis, Pseudosellacotyla lutzi (new locality record), Teratotrema sp. and Zonocotyle bicaecata.