Ovegård, Maria
- Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Research article2022Peer reviewedOpen access
Ovegård, Maria; Ljungberg, Peter; Orio, Alessandro; Öhman, Kristin; Benavente Norrman, Emilia; Lunneryd, Sven-Gunnar
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from the Eastern Baltic stock have decreased in numbers and condition since the 1990′s. Among several causes, an increased prevalence and intensity of the nematode Contracaecum osculatum has been discussed. This increase has been attributed to a population increase of the parasites final host, the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Other studies have looked at the role of Contracaecum osculatum on cod growth and condition on recently caught cod, or done short term experimental studies in lab. This study instead investigated the importance of Contracaecum osculatum for cod growth in a sea pen based experiment, where cod were kept and fed in order to monitor growth. The results show that a higher density (number of nematodes per gram liver) decreases cod growth potential. If the number of nematodes exceeded 8 per gram liver cod did not grow in length, even when given generous amounts of food. Accounting for the lack of growth due to Contracaecum osculatum may improve stock assessments and increase the possibility to reach management targets.
Anisakidae; Baltic cod; Contracaecum osculatum; Gadus morhua; Parasite
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
2022, Volume: 19, pages: 161-168
SDG14 Life below water
Fish and Aquacultural Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.08.006
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/118902