Leeches (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae)--parasites of Antarctic fish from Channichthyidae family

Wiad Parazytol. 2008;54(4):345-8.

Abstract

There has hitherto been very few research projects focusing on ectoparasites of Antarctic fishes. The presently reported study provides data on the prevalence and the intensity of leeches (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) infecting fishes. The materials were collected in December-February 1986/87 off the Elephant Island, South Georgia, Joinville Island, and South Shetlands. The following leech taxa were recorded in the Antarctic fishes of the family Channichthyidae: Trulliobdella capitis (Brinkmann, 1947); Cryobdella antarctica Epstein, 1970; Nototheniobdella sawyeri Utevsky, 1997; and Cryobdella sp. The above findings constitute new geographic records from off Elephant and Joinville Island and South Georgia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antarctic Regions / epidemiology
  • Fish Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Leeches* / physiology
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / parasitology
  • Perciformes / classification
  • Perciformes / parasitology*
  • Prevalence