Parasitic infestations of Pseudotolithus spp. off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria |
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Authors: | A. O. Anyanwu |
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Affiliation: | Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, P.M.B. 12729, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria |
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Abstract: | A nematode parasite Philometra translucida Walton (1927) was found in the ovaries of Pseudotolithus senegalensis Cuvier & Valenciennes (1833), P. typus Bleaker (1863) and P. elongatus Bowditch (1863), the most abundant and commercial sciaenid species in the Nigerian inshore waters. The parasite measured 56·0–59·0 cm in length. It occupied one-third to two-thirds of the mesenteries of the matured ovaries in severe cases of infection. The incidence of infestation, highest during peak spawning, was 10·0% in P. senegalensis , 12·0% in P. typus and 20·0% in P. elongatus . Another nematode parasite Coniracaecum sp. Ralliet & Henry (1912) was observed in the ovaries of two specimens of P. typus . |
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