Abstract
Eleven fish species from the Weddell Sea (Antarctic) were examined for infestation with anisakid nematodes. Two species of the genus Contracaecum and the sealworm Pseudoterranova decipiens were isolated from the liver and the body cavity of fish affected. Only two specimens of P. decipiens (1.4%) partly invaded the belly flaps. The following fish species were infested by P. decipiens at the given prevalences: Cygnodraco mawsoni (74.4%), Trematomus scotti (23.2%), Pagetopsis maculatus (10.0%), Cryodraco antarcticus (7.1%), Trematomus lepidorhinus (3.0%), and Dolloidraco longedorsalis (2.7%). All of these, except Trematomus scotti, are new host records. Chaenodraco wilsoni, Chionodraco myersi, Gerlachea australis, Racovitzia glacialis and T. eulepidotus were not infested. The reasons for low prevalence and intensity of infestation are seen in the difficulties of P. decipiens in completing its benthic life cycle in the Weddell Sea environment, in the absence of shallow coastal waters due to the floating shelf-ice. Cygnodraco mawsoni is a crucial intermediate host, without which completion of the parasite life cycle might not be possible. In order to clarify the taxonomical position of Antarctic Pseudoterranova, morphological comparisons with specimens of P. decipiens from the German and Norwegian coast were made using scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed no differences; hence, all specimens studied belong to the same species P. decipiens.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartsch A (1985) Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Parasitenbe-fall von Pleuragmmma antarcticum und Trematomus scotti (Pisces: Nototheniidae) aus der östlichen und südlichen Weddell-See (Antarktis). MSc thesis, University of Bochum
Baylis HA (1920) On the classification of the Ascaridae. I. The systematic value of certain characters of the alimentary canal. Parasitology 12:253–264
Baylis HA (1937) On the ascarids parasitic in seals, with special reference to the genus Contracaecum. Parasitology 29:121–130
Beverly-Burton M (1971) Helminths from the Wedell Seal, Leptonychotes weddelli (Lesson 1826), in the Antarctic. Can J Zool 49:75–83
Brattey J (1990) Effects of temperature on egg hatching in three ascaridoid nematode species from seals. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 222:27–39
Bristow GA, Berland B (1992) On the ecology and distribution of Pseudoterranova decipiens C (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in an intermediate host, Hippoglossoides platessoides, in northern Norwegian waters. Int J Parasitol 22:203–208
Carmack EC (1974) A quantitative characterization of water masses in the Weddell Sea during summer. Deep Sea Res 21:431–443
Feiler K (1987) Antarktische Fischereiforschung und Untersuchungen im Gebiet der Südshetlands. In: Physiologie, Biologie und Parasitologie von Nutzfischen, VI Wissenschaftliche Konferenz zu Fragen der Physiologie, Biologie und Parasitologie von Nutzfischen, 29.9.1986–1.10.1986, Rostock, pp 143–146
Feiler K (1990) Parasitological studies in the Antarctic by scientists from the GDR. Geodaet Geophys Veroeff (Berl) [I], 16:439–446
Garin C (1913) Recherche physiologique sur la fixation et le mode de nutrition de quelque nematode etc. Ann Univ Lion [NS1] 34:1–160
Holmes JC (1979) Parasite populations and host community structure. In: Nickel BB (ed) Host-parasite interfaces. Academic Press, New York, pp 27–46
Hoogesteger JN, White MG (1981) Notes on parasite infestation of inshore fish at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Br Antarct Surv Bull 54:23–31
Johnston TH (1938) Parasitic Nematoda. Sci Rep Australas Antarct Exped (1911–1914) [Ser C] 10:3–31
Kerstan SL (1992) The infestation of fish from the Wadden Sea and North Atlantic 1988–1990 with larval nematodes and a bibliography on nematodes parasitic in fish and marine mammals (in German). Ber Inst Meeresk Kiel 219, 205 pp
Klöser H (1985) Parasitologische Untersuchungen an Weddell-Robben (Leptonychotes weddelli (Lesson 1826) Alien 1880) und Krabbenfressern (Lobodon carcinophagus (Hombron et Jacquinot 1842) Gray 1844) aus der Weddell-See, Antarktis. MSc thesis, University of Bochum
Klöser H, Plötz J, Palm H, Bartsch A, Hubold G (1992) Adjustment of anisakid nematode life cycles to the high Antarctic food web as shown by Contracaecum radiatum and C. osculalum in the Weddel Sea. Antarct Sci 4:171–178
Kock KH (1982) Fischereibiologische Untersuchungen bei Elephant Island im März 1981. Arch Fischereiwiss 33:127–142
Kock KH, Schneppenheim R, Siegel V (1984) A contribution to the fish fauna of the Weddell Sea. Arch Fischereiwiss 34:103–120
Leiper RT, Atkinson EL (1914) Helminths of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–1913. Proc Zool Soc Lond 1:222–226
Linstow O von (1888) Report of the Entozoa collected by the HMS Challenger during the years 1873–76. Challenger Rep Zool 23:1–19
Linstow O von (1907) Nematodes of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902–1904. Proc R Soc Edinb 26:464–472
Lyadov VN (1981) Zoogeogrpahical characteristics of fish helminths from the Antarctic zone of the Pacific (in Russian). Symposium on Parasitology and Pathology of Marine Organisms. Nauka, Leningrad, pp 58–61
McClelland G (1990) Larval sealworm (Pseudoterranova decipiens) infections in benthic macrofauna. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 222:47–65
McClelland G, Ronald K (1974) In vitro development of Terranova decipiens (Nematoda) (Krabbe 1878). Can J Zool 52:471–479
Möller H (1988) Das Nematodenproblem bei Fischen und Fischerzeugnissen. RFL-Rundsch Fleischunters Lebensmittelüberw 40:195–198
Möller H (1989) Biology of nematodes inhabiting marine fish flesh. Anim Res Dev 30:96–106
Möller H, Klatt S (1990) Smelt as host of the sealworm (Pseudoter-ranova decipiens) in the Elbe estuary. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 222:129–138
Paggi L, Nascetti G, Cianchi R, Orecchia P, Mattiucci S, D'Amelio S, Berland B, Brattey J, Smith JW, Bullini L (1991) Genetic evidence for three species within Pseudoterranova decipiens (Nematoda, Ascaridida, Ascaridoidea) in the North Atlantic and Norwegian and Barents Seas. Int J Parasitol 21:195–221
Plötz J, Ekau W, Reijnders, PJH (1991) Diet of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii at Vestkapp, eastern Weddell Sea (Antarctica), in relation to local food supply. Mar Mamm Sci 7:136–144
Railliet A, Henry A (1907) Nemathelminthes parasites. Exped Antarct Fr (1903–1905) (Charcot) Sciences naturelles: Documentes scientifiques vers 1907:1–16
Reimer L (1987) Helminthen von Fischen der Antarktis. Fisch Forsch Rostock 25:36–40
Ronald K (1960) The effects of physical stimuli on the larval stage of Terranova decipiens (Krabbe, 1878) (Nematoda: Anisakidae). I. Temperature. Contrib Dep Pech Quebec 74:623–642
Siegel V (1980) Quantitative investigations on parasites of Antarctic channichthyid and nototheniid fishes. Meeresforschung 28:146–156
Templeman W (1990) Historical background to the sealworm problem in eastern Canadian waters. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 222:1–16
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Palm, H., Andersen, K., Klöser, H. et al. Occurrence of Pseudoterranova decipiens (Nematoda) in fish from the Southeastern Weddell Sea (Antarctic). Polar Biol 14, 539–544 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238223
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238223