The Korean Journal of Parasitology  2016;54(2):221-224

doi:10.3347/kjp.2016.54.2.221

Plerocercoids of Nybelinia surmenicola (Cestoda: Tentacularidae) in Squids, Todarodes pacificus, from East Sea, the Republic of Korea.

Joon Yup LEE 1 ; Ji Woon KIM ; Gab Man PARK

Affiliations

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Keywords

Nybelinia surmenicola; Todarodes pacificus; new record; plerocercoid; squid

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

A visceral helminth of the squid, Todarodes pacificus, is reported from the East Sea, the Republic of Korea. Total 39 squid samples were purchased from a fish market in Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si (City) from August 2014 to July 2015 and were examined for helminth parasites with naked eyes and under a stereomicroscope after opening the abdominal cavity with a pair of scissors. Whitish larval worms were mainly found in the stomach and abdominal cavity of the squid. They were detected in 25 (64.1%) out of 39 squids examined, and the infection density was 7 larvae per infected squid. Spatula-shaped larvae were 8.2×2.0 mm in average size, round to slightly flattened anteriorly, with round hatching posteriorly, and had characteristic 4 tentacles with numerous hooklets in the scolex. The larvae were identified as the plerocercoid stage of Nybelinia surmenicola by their morphological features. This finding represents a new host record and the first report of N. surmenicola infection in T. pacificus squids from the east coast of Korea.