Macroparasites in cetaceans stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast

Abstract

An extensive parasitological survey was carried out during autopsy of 80 cetaceans representing 8 species within 4 families (Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas, Kogia breviceps, Phocoena phocoena and Megaptera novaeangliae) collected on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from February 1991 to October 1996. Two species of tetraphyllidean cestodes (Phyllobothrium delphini and Monorygma grimaldii), 2 ascaridoid nematodes (Anisakis simplex and A. physeteris), a single spirurid nematode (Crassicauda magna), 4 rhabditidiform nematodes (Halocercus delphini, H. invaginatus, Halocercus spp. and Stenurus globicephalae), a single polymorphynae acanthocephalan (Bolbosoma sp.), and 2 amphipods (Isocyamus delphini and Cyamus boopis) were found. This paper presents 6 new geographic records of macroparasites from cetaceans in temperate Atlanto-Iberian waters. A total of 11 component parasite species were found, mainly parasitizing the blubber, mesentery and stomach of cetaceans. Cetaceans harboured a suite of 4 generalist and 8 specialist species.