| Parasite | Unidentified nematomorpha |
|---|---|
| Taxonomy | Nematomorpha, Gordiida |
| Hosts | Red-spotted masu salmon (Oncorhyncus masou) |
| Infection site | Digestive tract |
| Clinical signs | The nematomorpha was observed inside the digestive tract. The body is yellowish and folded inside the stomach (Figs. 1 and 2). |
| Parasitology | The parasite is ca. 1 mm in diameter and ca. 30 cm in length (Fig. 3). It moves slowly as if the wire is bent, e. g. it elongates or contracts poorly. |
| Pathology | No report. |
| Health hazard | Since this parasite is not infectious to human, it is harmless in food hygiene. |
| Diagnosis | The parasite possesses an external cuticle, a body cavity (pseudocoel), but no segments. |
| Other information | The parasite was found in the cultured red-spotted masu salmon (0-yeared fish). |
(Photos by K. Momoyama)
Fig. 1. A nematomorpha getting out of the mouth of red-spotted masu salmon.
Fig. 3. The nematomorpha from the fish
Fig. 2. A nematomorpha folding in the stomach.
