Anisakis pegreffii Larvae in Sea Eels (Astroconger myriaster) from the South Sea, Republic of Korea

Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s.), Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis berlandi (=A. simplex sp. C), and Anisakis typica are the 4 major species of Anisakis type I larvae. In the Republic of Korea (Korea), A. pegreffii, A. berlandi, and A. typica larvae in fish hosts has seldom been documented. In this study, molecular analysis was performed on Anisakis larvae from the sea eels (Astroconger myriaster), the major source of human anisakiasis in Korea, collected from Tongyeong City, a southern coastal area of Korea. All 20 sea eels examined were infected with Anisakis type I larvae (160 larvae; 8 per fish). Their species were analyzed using PCR-RFLP patterns and nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8 subunit gene, and ITS2) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 2 (cox2). Most (86.8%; 112/129) of the Anisakis type I larvae were A. pegreffii, and 7.8% (10/129) were A. typica. The remaining 5.4% (7/129) was not identified. Thus, A. pegreffii is the major species of anisakid larvae in sea eels of the southern coast of Korea.

Reproducción de la morena, Gymnothorax equatorialis (Pisces: Muraenidae) en Jalisco y Colima, México / Reproduction of the fish Gymnothorax equatorialis (Pisces: Muraenidae) in Jalisco and Colima, Mexico

Reproduction of the fish Gymnothorax equatorialis (Pisces: Muraenidae) in Jalisco and Colima, Mexico. A total of 707 Gymnothorax equatorialis were collected monthly in the Jalisco and Colima coast, Mexico, from December 1995 to December 1998 and from August to November 1999, in order to determine their reproduction patterns. Females outnumbered and had longer bodies (mean length 54.7 cm) than males (52.1 cm). The minimum, maximum and mean values of total fecundity were respectively 9 660, 99 992 and 32 029 eggs. The total body length at which 50 percent of individuals have ripe gonads (L50) was 43.7 cm for females and 42.7 cm TL for males. Ovaries had two main types of oocytes: small inmature in cromatin nucleolus phase (85.1 microm) and large mature in secundary vitellogenesis phase (701.6 microm). High numbers of spermatozoa were observed in the seminal tubes of ripe testicles, which presented a lobular development. Based in gonad features and temporal changes in the gonad-somatic index, it is concluded that G. equatorialis has two relatively short reproduction periods (at the middle and at the end of the year).

Con el fin de analizar los aspectos reproductivos de Gymnothorax equatorialis se recolectaron mensualmente 707 organismos en las costas de Jalisco y Colima, México, de diciembre de 1995 a diciembre de 1998 y de agosto a diciembre de 1999. Las hembras fueron más numerosas y presentaron una longitud (54.7 cm) mayor a la de los machos (52.1 cm). La fecundidad total mínima fue de 9 660 huevos, la máxima de 99 992 y la media fue 32 029 huevos. La talla en la que el 50 % de los individuos presentan gónadas maduras (L50) fue de 43.7 cm de longitud total en hembras y de 42.7 cm en machos. Los ovarios presentaron dos tipos de ovocitos, los pequeños inmaduros en fase cromatina nucleolo (85.1 μm) y los grandes maduros en fase de vitelogénesis secundaria (701.6 μm). En el testículo maduro se observó una gran cantidad de espermatozoides en el tubo seminal y el desarrollo del testículo es de tipo lobular. Con base en las características de las gónadas y la evolución temporal del índice gonadosomático, se concluye que G. equatorialis se reproduce dos veces al año (a mediados y finales del año).