Some aspects of the taxonomy and biology of dracunculoid nematodes parasitic in fishes: a review
2004
Moravec, F. (Akademie Ved, Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic). Parazitologicky Ustav)
The nematode superfamily Dracunculoidea includes 166 recognized species, of which 150 are parasitic in about 300 species of freshwater, brackish-water and marine fishes. Fish dracunculoids are placed in 31 genera belonging to eight of the nine dracunculoid families: Anguillicolidae, Daniconematidae, Guyanemidae, Lucionematidae, Micropleuridae, Philometridae, Skrjabillanidae, and Tetanonematidae. Most species of these largely histozoic parasites are poorly known and males of the majority of species and of eight genera have not yet been discovered. The present classification system of dracunculoids as a whole does not reflect phylogenetic relationships. In known cases, their life cycles involve copepods, ostracods or branchiurids as intermediate hosts and, sometimes, fish paratenic hosts are known to occur in dracunculoid species parasitizing as adults piscivorous definitive hosts. Some species of dracunculoids, particularly of philometrids, are highly pathogenic and are known as agents of serious fish diseases. Further detailed studies on fish dracunculoids are necessary.
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