title: Anisakidae in beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas from Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait.
abstract: A total of 190 nematodes was isolated from the stomachs of 13 beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas from the Arctic part of Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait. Infection intensity ranged from 1 to 57 specimens and prevalence was 84.62%. Morphological examination of the nematodes revealed the presence of 3 species: Pseudoterranova decipiens sensu lato, Contracaecum osculatum s.l., and Anisakis simplex s.l. Molecular analysis by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) resulted in the identification of 4 species: Pseudoterranova bulbosa, Contracaecum osculatum A and C, and Anisakis simplex sensu stricto. The nematodes were present in 3 developmental stages: L3 (159 specimens), L4 (16 larvae), and adults (15 worms: 11 males and 4 females).
authors.affiliation: Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Najda
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simard
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osewska
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dziekońska-Rynko
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dzido
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rokicki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D050643:Beluga Whale; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012621:Seasons