Some ecological relationships of larval ascaridoids from south-eastern Queensland marine fishes

Nine larval types within the genera Anisakis, Terranova, Thynnascaris and Contracaecum were recovered from south-eastern Queensland marine fishes. Data on (i) incidence, (ii) intensity of infection, (iii) host diet and (iv) habitat for each type suggest Anisakis is an open water type, Contracaecum an inshore, shallow water type and both Terranova and Thynnascaris have intermediate distributions. Host diets indicate Anisakis and Terranova are found in predators of nekton, Contracaecum and Thynnascaris in benthic feeders

A larval ascaridoid nematode from Queensland scallops

Cannon L. R. G. 1978. A larval ascaridoid nematode from Queensland scallops. International Journal for Parasitology 8: 75-80. The morphology of a fourth stage larval ascaridoid found in Amusium balloti is given with observations on the double nature of the excretory system. The infection rate was 5.6% with rarely more than one worm per scallop. No seasonal change in incidence was detected and no change in incidence with host size. The systematic position, possible life cycle and economic importance of the worm are discussed

The life history of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea), a parasite of marine molluscs and turtles

Berry G. N. and Cannon L. R. G. 1981. The life history of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea), a parasite of marine molluscs and turtles. International Journal for Parasitoiogy 11: 43-54. The morphology, development and hatching of Sulcascaris sulcata eggs are described. Two moults occurred in the egg. Third stage larvae spontaneously hatched and were found to develop in marine bivalves and gastropods. Larvae grew steadily and after three to four months, when about 5 mm long, they moulted to fourth stage larvae characteristic of natural infections in bivalves from commercial catches. Experimentally, when fed to laboratory-reared Caretta caretta, the fourth stage larvae first attached at the oesophago-gastric junction where they moulted to adults in 7-21 days. Subsequent growth to mature adults was obtained by at least 5 months after infection. It is suggested that under natural conditions the life history may take up to 2 years to complete. These findings are discussed in relation to the predatory mode of feeding and the breeding habits of C. caretta and the significance of a possible health hazard to man

New species of Temnocephala Blanchard (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalida) ectosymbiont on Aegla serrana Buckup & Rossi (Crustacea, Anomura) from southern Brazil

A new species of the genus Temnocephala Blanchard, 1849 is described from southern Brazil, ectosymbiont on Aegla serrana Buckup & Rossi, 1977, an anomuran crustacean, collected in a creek and a reservoir of the highlands in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. All crustaceans examined were positive for this species of Temnocephala and carried eggs in different regions of the ventral side: perioral area, pleural strips, esternal plates, pereiopods and chelipods; to a lesser extent in the dorsal side of the cephalothorax and dorsal side of the uropods; as well as adult and young specimens. The most distinctive characters of the new species are: 1) cyanophilous glands forming an irregular-shaped, grape-like, bunch of approximately 10-15 cells, deeply staining with hematoxylin; 2) shape and size of the cirrus and its introvert section; 3) number, size and distribution of the rhabdite glands and 4) shape and position of the post tentacular, 'excretory' syncytial plates, with the off-centered nephridiopore