Pseudanthocotyloides mamaevi Williams, 1988 (Polyopisthocotyla: Mazocraeidae) from Wild and Cultivated Japanese Anchovy Engraulis japonicus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) in Japan

抄録

The polyopisthocotylan responsible for anemia in the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus has not previously been identified. In this study, specimens collected from both healthy wild Japanese anchovies and anemic cultured fish raised from eggs were identified as Pseudanthocotyloides mamaevi (Polyopisthocotyla: Mazocraeidae). This represents the first record of this species in Japan and provides a redescription accompanied by molecular data. Although P. mamaevi exhibits relatively high pathogenicity to Japanese anchovy, disease outbreaks have not been reported in aquaculture operations that use wild-caught larvae. This study therefore constitutes the first report of disease caused by this polyopisthocotylan in Japanese anchovy aquaculture.