Anisakid nematodes of Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides from the Barents Sea.

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes from the body cavity of 94 Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) caught in the Barents Sea were examined. Nematode species were identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Four morphospecies were found: Anisakis simplex s.l., Contracaecum osculatum s.l., Pseudoterranova decipiens s.l., and Hysterothylacium aduncum. The most prevalent were C. osculatum s.l. (89.4%) and A. simplex s.l. (86.2%). Mean intensities for these 2 species were 7.8 and 45.2, respectively. The number of parasites was directly proportional to the fish length. The following 6 parasite species, including 3 cryptic species of Contracaecum sp., were identified using molecular methods: A. simplex sensu stricto, C. osculatum A, C. osculatum B and C (the last 2 as host records for halibut), Pseudoterranova bulbosa, and H. aduncum. Mixed infections of C. osculatum A, B, and C were observed.