The importance of sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) as intermediate host and transmitter of the sealworm Pseudoterranova decipiens.

A total of 186 sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius) were caught at Vega, Nordland, Norway, and examined for sealworm larvae (Pseudoterranova decipiens). Over 80% of the fish were infected. Very high infections were found with a maximum of nearly 300 larvae in one sculpin. Infections of this magnitude have so far not been reported from sculpins or any other fish species of this size. The importance of the sculpin in the life cycle and in the transmission of P. decipiens to seals or other fish species is briefly discussed.