title: Occurrence of Ergasilus megaceros Wilson, 1916, in the sea lamprey and other fishes from North America.
abstract: Ergasilus megaceros (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) was recovered from the nasal fossae (lamellae) of the olfactory sac in 1 (1.8%) of 56 sea lampreys, Petromyzon marinus Linne, 1758, collected in May 2002 from the Cheboygan River, Michigan. Although the sea lamprey is a new host record for E. megaceros, this fish species may not be a preferred host because of its low prevalence. Ergasilus megaceros is the second ergasilid species reported from the sea lamprey in North America. This is the third report of an ergasilid species infecting the nasal fossae of fishes in North America, with E. rhinos being the only other species reported from this site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, 203 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. muzzall@msu.edu
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Muzzall
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D033342:Copepoda / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D007798:Lampreys / Q000469:parasitology*; D008824:Michigan; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000469:parasitology*; D045483:Rivers