Notes: Occurrence of<i>Anguillicola crassus</i>, an Exotic Parasitic Swim Bladder Nematode of Eels, in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

In February 1995, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department investigated a south Texas aquaculture facility raising eels for sale in Asian markets. There was concern that the eels were infected with Anguillicola crassus, a parasitic swim bladder nematode detrimental to fisheries for European eel Anguilla anguilla after its introduction from Asia in the early 1980s. Eight of 23 eels examined at the facility were infected with a total of 104 Anguillicola crassus. To determine if the parasite was present in natural populations of eels in North America, wild eels from five Texas rivers (N = 22) and Winyah Bay, South Carolina (N = 8) were examined. No swim bladder parasites were found in the eels from Texas, but one eel from South Carolina was infected with an immature Anguillicola crassus.