Sarcotaces sp., a Parasitic Copepod Infection in two Deep-Sea Fishes, Lepidion Eques and Coelorhynchus Occa

Abstract

This paper describes the incidence and pathology of a copepod parasite (Sarcotaces sp.) in two species of deep-sea bottom-living fish. The fish Lepidion eques (Moridae) and Coelorynchus occa (Macrouridae) are common on the continental slope to the west of the British Isles at depths from about 400 to 1300 m and 700 and 2000 m respectively.In both species the parasite was located beneath the skin. In L. eques it was found primarily on the head, whereas in C. occa it was present on the mid to lower flank, often close to the anal vent. Excision of the parasite from the host tissue showed it to consist of a pyriform sac filled with inky black fluid. Detailed histological investigations revealed the parasite wall to be a highly complex structure. Within the gut fluid shown to be of haematogenous origin, numerous copepod nauplii were often observed.