Identifying Two Ectoparasite Species of Mackerel Icefish based on Mitochondrial Gene and Morphology
Research article published in Microsc Microanal (2025)
Abstract
As the most common ectoparasites on mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari Lönnberg 1905), which has great economic and ecological importance in the Southern Ocean, parasitic copepods and leeches can significantly affect fish health and survival and thus influence the sustainable use of this commercial fishery resource. Accurate identification of these parasites is essential for understanding their specific impacts on hosts and ecosystems, as well as for developing effective fisheries management. This study investigated 34 ectoparasites from 28 C. gunnari specimens at South Georgia in August 2023 using microscopy and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (CO I) markers. Morphological analysis tentatively identified 10 leeches as Notobdella nototheniae and 24 copepods as Eubrachiella antarctica. Microscopic examinations and morphological measurements revealed marked differences between male and female copepods. Additionally, CO I sequencing confirmed the leeches as N. nototheniae (98.81% similarity) but suggested the copepods were Parabrachiella merluccii (81.97-82.25% similarity). All sequences have been uploaded to Genbank. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic trees were also constructed using the CO I sequence of both ectoparasites. The 10 leeches were identified as N. nototheniae, and the 24 copepods were E. antarctica in this study.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Zusammenfassung
34 ectoparasites from 28 Champsocephalus gunnari mackerel icefish at South Georgia; 10 leeches identified as Notobdella nototheniae by morphology and COI sequencing.
Warum dies für die Hirudotherapie relevant ist
Diese Studie untersuchte die Identifizierung von Ektoparasiten, einschließlich parasitischer Blutegel, die an Eisfischen (Mackerel icefish) im Südlichen Ozean gefunden wurden, mittels morphologischer und mitochondrialer DNA-Analyse. Die Forschenden untersuchten 34 Ektoparasiten von 28 Fischexemplaren und identifizierten zehn Blutegel erfolgreich als *Notobdella nototheniae* mittels COI-Gen-Sequenzierung. Obwohl diese Forschung spezifische parasitische Blutegel, die kommerzielle Fischarten befallen, präzise dokumentiert und identifiziert, ist sie für die American Society of Hirudotherapy nicht relevant. Die Studie ist ausschließlich eine Übung in mariner Parasitologie und Taxonomie und liefert keinerlei Erkenntnisse zu humanmedizinischen Anwendungen, therapeutischen Sekretomen oder klinischer Verwendung von Blutegeln.
Zitation
Identifying Two Ectoparasite Species of Mackerel Icefish based on Mitochondrial Gene and Morphology.
Zheng Z et al. · Microsc Microanal, 2025
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