Goezia

Contents

Rev 01/04/2023

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Goezia menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Raphidascarididae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification

Chromadorea

       Spiruria

         Ascaridida

          Ascaridoidea

               Raphidascarididae

                          Goezia Zeder, 1800

Type species of the genus: Culcullanus ascaroides Goeze, 1782

 

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Morphology and Anatomy:

  • Body stout,tapering to extremities
  • Lip region characteristically overhung; lips approximately aboutin size with prominent overhang; dorsal lip with two double papillae; subventral lips each with one lateral amphid, papilla, and double papilla.
  • Cuticle with conspicuous plicated annulations with spines along the posterior edge.
  •  Glandular region of esophagus (ventriculus) nearly spherical; ventricular appendage a narrow cylinder or saclike, with septum dividing appendage into two equal longitudinal pouches
  • Intestinal cecum shorter than ventricular appendage.
  • Excretory system with duct extending within left lateral cord; excretory pore located near level of nerve ring.
  • Tail conical; tip of tail with digitiform process, terminating with or without spinous structures.

Male:

  • Spicules alate, equal or unequal in length.
  • Gubernaculum absent.
  • Caudal papillae occasionally inconspicuous.

Female:

  • Vulva usually anterior to midbody.
  • Uteri didelphic, opisthodelphic.
  • Ovaries and oviducts sinuous.
Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
Ref: Deardorff and Overstreet, 1980
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Distribution

Predominantly parasites of freshwater fish but, to a lesser extent, marine fish and aquatic reptiles including crocodilians.

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Economic Importance:

 

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Hosts:

Freshwater and marine  fish, aquatic reptiles.

Described from Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus), cobia (Rachycentridae). Chaetodiptems faber (Broussonet), Atlantic spadefish (Ephippidae); Ophicthus sp.

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Feeding

Gastro-intestinal parasites.

 
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Life Cycle

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
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Damage:

Reduced productivity in freshwater fish farms. Very occasional infection of humans through consumption of raw fish.

Host response to species of Goezia varies among hosts.

In some cases, the nematode penetrates into the muscular tissues and a vascularized, dense, collagenous capsule develops, often with a chronic inflammatory response extending about 1 mm from the capsule. Mucosa still remains in contact with the nematode but iss inflamed and laden with bacteria, and sloughing. The exposed wall lining the capsule had plications depicting a mirror image of the external cuticular rings which had fit there before the tissue was fixed (Fig. 50). Some regions of the wall become heavily infiltrated by both coccoid and rod-shaped bacteria (Deardorff and Overstreet, 1980).

 

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Management:

 
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References:

Deardorff, T.L., Overstreet, R.M. 1980. Taxonomy and Biology of North American Species of Goezia (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from Fishes, including Three New Species  Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 47:192-217.

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