Nectonema (Nematomorpha: Nectonematoidea) a parasite of decapod Crustacea in the Bay of Fundy

Abstract

Juvenile stages of the marine nematomorph genus Nectonema were found in the rock crab, Cancer irroratus, jonah crab, C. borealis, hermit crab, Pagurus acadianus, and the shrimps, Pandalus montagui and P. borealis, in the Bay of Fundy. No effects on the internal organs of most parasitized hosts could be detected although some male rock crabs had atrophied gonads suggesting parasitic castration by Nectonema. In the area of highest parasite incidence 48% of the rock crabs and 11.6% of the hermit crabs sampled were parasitized with Nectonema. Taxonomic work with the genus Nectonema is needed.