Notes on helminth parasites of the whiting Odontogadus m. merlangus (L.) from the northern Irish Sea

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Abstract
In an examination of 1352 whiting from the Irish Sea 13 helminth species were discovered. One species, Scolex polymorphus Rudolphi, was a new species associated with whiting and 7 other species were new species for whiting from the Northern Irish Sea. The species of the digenean genus Podocotyle found in whiting is probably an ecotype of P. atomon. It was concluded that the bothridial structure of 5. polymorphus cannot be used for diagnostic purposes nor to determine early and late stages of the larvae. The number of Diclidophora merlangi Kuhn (Monogenea) from each monthly sample with eggs in the uterus is directly proportional to temperature, but egg production under experimental conditions was greatest at 6° C. Several theories are proposed to explain these apparently contradictory observations. The life‐history of the digenean Stephanostomum pristis Looss, appears to be unusual in that the 2nd intermediate host may be planktonic. The nematode Contra caecum clavatum Rudolphi is found both as larvae and adults but larvae comprise the greater part of the worm population. The discovery of small stage II larvae in the stomach of whiting supports the theory that only one intermediate host is necessary for the development of Contmcaecum. There were significantly more female C. clavatum than male but a 1: 1 sex ratio is demonstrated by the acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi Muller. Early and late forms of the plerocercoid of Grillotia erinaceus Van Beneden are identified. The early form occurred predominantly in the young whiting.

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