Abundance of the parasitic copepod Caligus elongatus on wild pollock near commercial salmonid net-pens

Shaw, Ross; Opitz, M.

Abundance of the parasitic copepod Caligus elongatus on wild pollock near commercial salmonid net-pens

Author

Shaw, Ross

Opitz, M.

Date

1996

Keywords

wild pollock, Caligus elongatus, Caligus elongatus, parasitic copepod

Abstract (summary)

Between July and December 1993, wild pollock Pollachius virens collected near salmonid net‐pens on the Atlantic coast of Maine in the United States were examined for parasitic copepods of the family Caligidae to determine the role of pollock as host reservoirs. Only Caligus elongatus was detected on 1,456 pollock sampled. Most pollock (97.39%) had two or fewer sea lice per fish. A maximum prevalence (percent of fish infested) of 50%, an abundance (average number per fish) of 0.9, and an intensity (average number per infested fish) of L79 were recorded. Only one larval C. elongatus was found. No seasonal or geographic trends in infestation statistics were observed.

Publication Information

Shaw, R., Opitz, M. (1996). Abundance of the parasitic copepod Caligus elongatus on wild pollock near commercial salmonid net‐pens. J. Aqua. Ani. Health 8(1):75-77.