Role of hyperbenthic crustaceans in the transmission of marine helminth parasites

Abstract

Invertebrates (n = 34<|>813), collected from nine areas in the Northwest Atlantic, were either dissected or enzymatically digested to determine if the animals harboured helminth infections. Six species of endoparasites were found. Mysids were host to the larval nematodes Pseudoterranova decipiens (sealworm), Hysterothylacium aduncum, and Paracuaria adunca, which are found as adults in seals, fish, and birds, respectively, and to the digenean fish parasite Hemiurus levinseni (first record in mysids). Larval Paracuaria adunca and Tetrameres sp., both nematode parasites of birds, and Ascarophis sp., a parasite of fish, were found in amphipods. Some Ascarophis sp. and H. levinsenirecovered from the crustaceans exhibited precocious sexual development. Natural infection rates of helminths in invertebrates are low. Mysids appear to be more important hosts than amphipods for transmission of sealworm to fish.