Helminth Parasites From the Stomach of Conger Eel, Conger conger, From Madeira Island, Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Geographic variations in the diversity and prevalence of helminth parasites of fish can provide important clues as to the relatedness of fish populations. In the present work, the stomachs of 64 conger eels, Conger conger, collected during 1999 and 2000, were examined for the presence of parasites. Four fish were infected with L3 stages of the nematode Anisakis simplex s.l. (Anisakidae), 1 with the nematode Cristitectus congeri (Cystidicolidae), 1 with the acanthocephalan Rhadinorhynchus pristis, 17 with postlarvae of Sphyriocephalus tergestinus (Eucestoda: Trypanorhyncha), and 55 with Lecithochirium spp. (Digenea: Hemiuridae). The hemiurids were the most abundant parasites, with a total of 385 individuals recovered. Strong aggregated distributions were found for both the digeneans, Lecithochirium musculus and Lecithochirium fusiforme, with variance-to-mean ratios (s 2 /x) and index of discrepancy (D) 13.98 and 0.672 (for L. musculus) and 8.08 and 0.90 for L. fusiforme, respectively. Intensity of L. musculus, L. fusiforme, and S. tergestinus showed significant relationships with depth of capture. Differences in number of species and prevalence were found between Madeira and the Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula.

Metazoan Parasite Fauna of Conger Eel (Conger conger L.) Near Gökçeada, Northeasten Aegean Sea, Turkey

“…While Sanmartin et al 12 did not reported Lecithochirium fusiforme in their study carried out in North-west Spain. A higher prevalance of infection was found by Costa et al 1 in Portugal coasts of Atlantic Ocean and by Culurgioni et al 5 in Italian waters. In this study, Lecithochirium fusiforme was seen to be the most abundant in all species parasites of conger eel.…”

“…Prosorynchus crucibulum were already detected in various infection rates in different areas of Mediterranean 1,2,5 . It was seen with a prevalance of 11.54% and mean intensity of >25.…”

A Review of the Parasites of Deep-Water Fishes from Macaronesian Islands, North-East Atlantic Ocean

“…In this respect a survey of parasites of the conger eel, C. conger, from Madeira Archipelago, found that some parasites were more abundant in deeper waters. For example the postlarvae of the trypanorhynch Sphyriocephalus tergestinus Pintner, 1913 and the hemiurid digenean Lecithochirium grandiporum (L. fusiforme Lühe, 1901) (Rudolphi, 1819) Lühe, 1901, occurred in waters below 400m deep, whereas the digenean L. musculus (Looss, 1907) Nasir & Diaz, 1971, was present in conger eels only at depths of 200-300m [54]. In the mesobathyal region, fish and crustaceans are the preferential prey, thus explaining the presence of S. tergestinus in deeper waters.…”

“…In the deep water realm trypanorhynchs of the families Aporhynchidae, Gilquinidae and larval tetraphyllideans are the most common cestodes infecting fishes and sharks [18,40,47,48]. Nevertheless, trypanorhynchs of the families Tentaculariidae and Sphyriocephalidae, common parasites of epipelagic and mesopelagic fishes, were additionally found in the black-scabbard fish and the conger eel [9,17,54]. This reflects the feeding behaviour of the fish hosts, which undergo extensive vertical migrations [11,54].…”

“…Nevertheless, trypanorhynchs of the families Tentaculariidae and Sphyriocephalidae, common parasites of epipelagic and mesopelagic fishes, were additionally found in the black-scabbard fish and the conger eel [9,17,54]. This reflects the feeding behaviour of the fish hosts, which undergo extensive vertical migrations [11,54]. Ecological factors such as diet, depth range, temperature, and host behaviour are important as driving forces shaping the community structure of parasites.…”