A study was conducted to determine the prevalence, geographical distribution, and effects of a microsporan parasite, Loma branchialis, in Atlantic cod in coastal Newfoundland. The parasite was identified microscopically as opaque, ovoid xenomas, primarily in the gills, heart, and spleen. Although widely distributed in young fish inhabiting 7 coastal localities, prevalence was 1–7% in general, <0.01% in older and large fish, but 78% in market-size cod from a commercial farm. Some of the latter fish were emaciated, and ∼2 mo after the parasite was detected, 63% succumbed with a massive infection. Condition factor and blood values were significantly lower than those in reference fish. An experimental study conducted over 2 yr revealed that mass gained and condition factor were significantly lower in infected cod than in controls at the termination of the study. Feed consumption, mass gained, feed conversion efficiency, and condition factor also were significantly lower in another group of infected cod of marketable size studied over 12 wk. Xenomas also were observed in the heart and gills of year class II cod reared in a hatchery. Loma branchialis is considered to be a potential pathogen in both hatchery-reared and net pen–cultured cod in Newfoundland.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
October 2005
RESEARCH NOTES|
October 01 2005
Prevalence and Influence of Loma branchialis (Microspora) on Growth and Mortality in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in Coastal Newfoundland
R. A. Khan
R. A. Khan
Department of Biology and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3X9, Canada. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
J Parasitol (2005) 91 (5): 1230–1232.
Citation
R. A. Khan; Prevalence and Influence of Loma branchialis (Microspora) on Growth and Mortality in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in Coastal Newfoundland. J Parasitol 1 October 2005; 91 (5): 1230–1232. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-528R.1
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
LOUSY ASSOCIATIONS: SUCKING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA: ANOPLURA) PARASITIZING RODENTS AND LAGOMORPHS IN THE DESERT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NEVADA
Sara B. Weinstein, John P. Dumbacher, Lance A. Durden
A NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHOBOTHRIUM (CESTODA: ONCHOPROTEOCEPHALIDEA), PARASITE OF THE GIANT ELECTRIC RAY NARCINE ENTEMEDOR JORDAN AND STARKS, 1895 (BATOIDEA: TORPEDINIFORMES) FROM MEXICO
Erick Rodríguez-Ibarra, Berenice Adán-Torres, Fernando Ruiz-Escobar, Gerardo Torres-Carrera
SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN GOATS FROM SOUTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI, USA
Alexander D. W. Acholonu, Jamela S. Alexander
TAXES OF DICYEMIDS (PHYLUM DICYEMIDA)
Naoki Hisayama, Yuto Takeuchi, Hidetaka Furuya
TRICHINELLA MURRELLI POZIO AND LA ROSA, 2000 IN A GRAY FOX (UROCYON CINEREOARGENTEUS) FROM PENNSYLVANIA: A NEW HOST RECORD FOR THIS ZOONOTIC NEMATODE
P. C. Thompson, L. S. de Araujo, A. Gupta, S. Kay, O. C. H. Kwok, J. Battle, K. Van Why, J. D. Brown, B. M. Rosenthal, J. P. Dubey