First report of the fish trematode Botulus microporus from Alepisaurus ferox on the Japanese coast

Abstract

The trematode parasite Botulus microporus (Monticelli, 1889) is reported for the first time on the coast of Japanese mainland. The host fish Alepisaurus ferox Lowe, 1833 which had washed ashore was sampled on the coast of Shizuoka Prefecture, Suruga Bay, Japan. Its digestive tube was dissected in the laboratory, and an adult trematode was detected from the host intestine. The trematode was identified as B. microporus based on morphological characteristics.