ANISAKID LARVAE IN COD FROM THE SOUTHERN BALTIC SEA

Between 1987 and 1933 3036 cod were caught in the southern Baltic Sea (ICES-subdivision 25 and 26). These were examined for extra-intestinal nematode larvae. Parasite larvae were found mainly in the liver, but also in the body cavities of the fish. Contracaecum osculatum was more common than Hysterothylacium auctum and Anisakis simplex. This was th e first rime that the latter species has been found in cod caught in t he Polish Exclusive Economic Zone of ICES-subdivision 26. Only one cod was infected with Pseudoterranova decipiens. The smallest cod infecte d was 33 cm long, and prevalence and other infect ion parameters incre ased with fish length. While cod infection with anisakid larvae in the Polish fishing grounds was low (3.7 %), it was higher in the Danish a nd Swedish regions studied. Prevalence of fish infection varied betwee n 0 and 7 % in monthly samples. It was found that female fish were mor e commonly infected than males. Infection with nematode larvae does no t influence the body condition factor of cod, which is similar in both infected and non-infected fish.