The occurrence of a large digenean, Otodistomum plunketi, in 8 rajid host species from the Falkland Islands was investigated. All infected hosts are new host records for O. plunketi. The parasites were in the abdominal cavity except in 1 individual host, which harbored some trematodes within the pericardium. The prevalence and mean intensity of O. plunketi in all hosts examined were 31% and 1.95, respectively. Bathyraja multispinis had the greatest infection rate, with a prevalence of 100%, a mean intensity of 50.4, and a range of 8–136 parasites. Bathyraja scaphiops and Raja doellojuradoi were not infected. For Bathyraja albomaculata, a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between mean abundance and total length. For the remaining hosts, no relationship was found between intrinsic host factors and infection. Thirty small crabs, Peltarion spinosulum, a major prey item for B. multispinis and B. albomaculata, were examined for O. plunketi metacercariae but were not infected.
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1 January 2002
The Occurrence of Otodistomum plunketi (Digenea: Azygiidae), in Rays (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) Around the Falkland Islands
Paul Brickle,
Joost Pompert,
Daniel Poulding
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Azygiidae
Chrondrichthys
Digenea
Falkland Islands
Otodistomum plunketi
Rajidae
rays