The tetraphyllidean and tetrabothriid cercoids from Antarctic bony fishes. III. Infection of Notothenia neglecta and N.rossii in Admiralty Bay

Investigations on the relations of the infection of Notothenia neglecta and immature N. rossii from Admiralty Bay with two common tetraphyllidean cercoids (with bi- and trilocular bothridia) to the fishes’ sex, size and seasonality were carried out. The infection of N. neglecta with both forms of cercoids was independent on host’s sex, but dependent on host size. The infection of N. rossii with the same cercoids was also dependent on host size but this relation was strongly marked only in the case of cercoids with trilocular bothridia, while statistically insignificant in the case of cercoids with bilocular bothridia. The level of the infection of N. neglecta with both forms of cercoids dependent weakly from season of the year. The greatest numbers of both cercoids occurred more frequently in the second half of the year (Antarctic winter and spring). The length of time that larvae stay in the alimentary tract of bony fishes is not known, thus the time of the main acquisition of the parasites cannot be determined.