The life-cylce of Capillaria gracilis (Capillariidae), a nematode parasite of gadoid fish
Køie, M. (2001). The life-cylce of Capillaria gracilis (Capillariidae), a nematode parasite of gadoid fish. Sarsia 86: 383-387
In: Sarsia. University of Bergen. Universitetsforlaget: Bergen. ISSN 0036-4827; e-ISSN 1503-1128, more
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| Keywords |
Cycles > Life cycle
Developmental stages
Host preferences
Parasites
Capillaria gracilis (Bellingham, 1840) [WoRMS]; Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]; Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
The adult nematode Capillaria gracilis (Bellingham, 1840) Travassos, 1915 (Capillariidae) lives in the rectum of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua (L.) and other gadoids. Its life-cycle was unknown until now. Immature specimens were found in sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas) and dab Limanda limanda (L.). Newly released eggs are unembryonated. The larvated eggs, each containing a 300 µm long larva, are directly infective to chironomid larvae (Insecta, Chironomidae), oligochaetes (Annelida, Tubificidae) and sand gobies. In the invertebrate hosts the larvae increase their length to 350 µm; in the intestine of the obligate intermediate fish hosts the non-encapsulated larvae grow to a length of 800 µm. Larvae 600 µm long are infective to Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. Various polychaetes, crustaceans and fish species, including cod and flatfish, were refractory to infection with larvated eggs. The parasite cannot transfer from one cod to another through predation. |
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