Larvae of Contracaecum sp. among inshore fish species of southwestern Australia

Lymbery, A.J., Doupé, R.G., Munshi, M.A. and Wong, T. (2002) Larvae of Contracaecum sp. among inshore fish species of southwestern Australia. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 51 . pp. 157-159.

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Abstract

Larval nematode infections were investigated in 236 fish from 17 estuarine and near-shore species in southwestern Australia. Larvae of the genus Contracaecum were found in 4 species of fish (Acanthopagrus butcheri, Sillaginodes punctata, Mugil cephalus and Aldrichetta forsteri). The prevalence and intensity of infection was highest in the 2 species of mullet: 81% infected and 9.8 ± 1.5 larvae fish^-1 for M. cephalus; 100% and 12.7 ± 3.7 larvae fish^-1 for A. forsteri. There was no evidence of post-mortem migration of worms from the visceral organs to the musculature of the fish.