Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-07T15:47:56.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Trypanorhynchid cestodes of commercial inshore fishes of the West African coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 1994

Harry Palm
Affiliation:
Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
Austin Obiekezie
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria
Heino Möller
Affiliation:
Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
Get access

Abstract

A wide spectrum of fish hosts in the Gulf of Guinea was examined for infestation with trypanorhynchid cestodes. A total of 1341 specimens belonging to 45 species were examined. The following 9 trypanorhynchid species were identified: Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Grillotia perelica, Nybelinia sp., Otobothrium cysticum, O. dipsacum, Otobothrium sp., Poecilancistrum caryophyllum, Ptero-bothrium sp. and one unidentified species. The pattern of occurrence of Callitetrarhynchus gracilis has been used to draw conclusions on a possible 4-host life cycle of the species, involving two obligatory teleost host fish species, small clupeids and large predatory fish. The most abundant parasite was O. cysticum which was found in 8 host fishes. In general most other species occurred in one host fish species only. The study confirms the predominance of otobothriid cestodes in the parasite fauna of tropical and subtropical teleost fish species. Since only Pseudotolithus senegalensis and Stromateus fiatola harboured flesh infestations, trypanorhynchids do not pose serious dangers to the marketability of most commercially important fish species in the area. The method of scanning electron microscopy was used to clarify the details of hooklet arrangement on the tentacular armature of some species for the first time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© IFREMER-Gauthier-Villars, 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)