Helminth infection in the short-finned squid Illex coindetii (Cephalopoda, Ommastrephidae) off NW Spain

TL;DRAbstract

A survey of parasites in 600 short-finned squid fllex coindetii (Verany. 1839) taken from 2 locations (north and south Galicia) off the northwestern Ibenan Peninsula revealed the presence of numerous somatoxenous helrninths. Three genera of Tetraphyllidean plerocercoids were represented (prevalences: Ph}~llobothriurn sp., 45.7%; Dinobothriunl sp., 0.8%; and Pelichnibothrium speciosum, 0.001 %); 1 Trypanorhynchidean metacestode was also present (Nybelinia vamagutll. 0.4 %). In addition, larval nematodes of Anisakis simplex (L3) were recorded (10.6%). Abundance of infection was examined in relation to squid sex, standard length, maturity and locality. This analysis indicated that parasite infection was lower in the southern squids than in the northern squid group. Over the entire survey area, parasite infection showed a close positive correlation with host life-cycle, often with the greatest number of parasites among the largest and highest maturity individuals ( > l 8 to 20 cm; maturlty

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