An adult cystidicolid nematode (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the subcutaneous tissue around the eye of percupinefish, Diodon nichthemerus Cuvier

Abstract

Three adult nematode specimens, all ovigerous females belonging to the family Cystidicolidae Skryabin, 1946, were found for the first time in the subcutaneous tissue around the eye of the captive porcupinefish Diodon nichthemerus Cuvier at a public aquarium in Osaka, Japan. Because no male was available, these could not be identified to the genus and species. This case highlights the risk of parasitism in aquaculture puffer fish, as these may ingest small shrimp, which probably act as intermediate hosts for the nematode.