Report of the 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist's Workshop 29 September, 1994 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre St. John's, Newfoundland Editor J. Richard Arthur Fish and Marine Mammals Division Department of Fisheries and Oceans Maurice Lamontagne Institute P.0 Box 1000 Mont-Joli, Quebec G5H 3Z4 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 231 6 Pêches Fisheries * et Ockans and Oc6ans Canada Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribu- tion is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report is abstracted in Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and indexed in the Department's annual index to scientific and technical publications. Numbers 1-900 in this series were issued as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Biological Board of Canada, and subsequent to 1937 when the name of the Board was changed by Act of Parliament, as Manuscript Reports (Biological Series) of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 901-1425 were issued as Manuscript Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 1426-1550 were issued as Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service Manuscript Reports. The current series name was changed with report number 1551. Manuscript reports are produced regionally but are numbered nationally. Requests for individual reports will be filled by the issuing establishment listed on the front cover and title page. Out-of-stock reports will be supplied for afee by commercial agents. Rapport manuscrit canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques Les rapports manuscrits contiennent des renseignements scientifiques et techni- ques qui constituent une contribution aux connaissances actuelles, mais qui traitent de problèmes nationaux ou régionaux. La distribution en est limitée aux organismes et aux personnes de régions particulières du Canada. Il n'y a aucune restriction quant au sujet; de fait, la série reflète la vaste gamme des intérêts et des politiques du ministère des Pêches et des Océans, c'est-à-dire les sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. Les rapports manuscrits peuvent être cités comme des publications complètes. Le titre exact paraît au-dessus du résumé de chaque rapport. Les rapports manuscrits sont résumés dans la revue Résumés des sciences aquatiques et halieutiques, et ils sont classés dans l'index annuel des publications scientifiques et techniques du Ministère. Les numéros 1 à 900 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de manuscrits (série biologique) de l'Office de biologie du Canada, et après le changement de la désignation de cet organisme par décret du Parlement, en 1937, ont été classés comme manuscrits (série biologique) de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 90 1 à 1425 ont été publiés à titre de rapports manuscrits de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 1426 à 1550 sont parus à titre de rapports manuscrits du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environne- ment. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 1551. Les rapports manuscrits sont produits à l'échelon régional, mais numérotés à l'échelon national. Les demandes de rapports seront satisfaites par l'établissement auteur dont le nom figure sur la couverture et la page du titre. Les rapports épuisés seront fournis contre rétribution par des agents commerciaux. Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 2316 1995 Report of the 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist's Workshop 29 September 1994 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre St. John's, Newfoundland Edited by J. Richard Arthur Fish and Marine Marnmals Division Department of Fisheries and Oceans Maurice Lamontagne Institute P.0 Box 1000 Mont-Joli (Quebec) G5H 324 O Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1995 Cat. No. Fs 97-410000E ISSN 0706-6473 Correct citation for this publication: Arthur, J.R. (ed.) 1995. Report of the 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist's Workshop, 29 September, 1994, Northwest Antantic Fisheries Centre, St. John's Newfoundland. Cm. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2316: IV + 50 p. ... Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................... iv &SU& ........................................................ iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................ 1 REPORTS OF THE REGIONS: Gulf Region. S.E. McGladdery and M.F. Stephenson ..................... 6 Newfoundland Region. J. Brattey. ................................. 10 Quebec Region. JJI. Arthur, D J. Marcogliese and L. Measures ............ 18 Scotia-Fundy Region. G. McClelland and D.J.Martel1 ................... 36 ANNEXES: ANNEX 1: List of participants .................................... 46 ANNEX II: Schedule ........................................... 47 ANNEX III: Report of the meeting to update sealworm dynamics ............ 48 iv ABSTRACT Arthur, J.R. (ed.) 1995. Report of the 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist 's Workshop, 29 September, 1994, Northwest Antantic Fisheries Centre, St. John's Newfoundland. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2316: IV + 50 p. The 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist's Workshop, held on the 29 September 1994 at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John's, Nfld., brought together researchers from four of the Department's Atlantic laboratories to review work accomplished since Septem ber 1993 and to discuss and coordinate activities planned for 1995/1996. This report summarizes by region the large amount of research and related activities accomplished by DFO's Atlantic parasitologists during the past year and outlines that planned for the near future. An executive summary provides highlights of these accomplishments and outlines the research priorities for the Atlantic Canada zone and the individual regions. Arthur, J.R. (ed.) 1995. Report of the 4th DFO Atlantic Parasitologist's Workshop, 29 September, 1994, Northwest Antantic Fisheries Centre, St. John's Newfoundland. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2316: IV + 50 p. Le 4ième atelier de travail des parasitologistes du MPO de la Zone atlantique s'est tenu au Centre des Pêches de l'Atlantique du Nord-Ouest à St. John's, Terre-Neuve , le 29 septembre 1994. Des chercheurs provenant de quatre des laboratoires du Ministère. de la Zone atlantique se sont réunis pour passer en revue le travail accompli depuis septembre 1993 et pour discuter et coordonner les activités pour 1995-1996. Ce rapport résume, par région, la grande quantité de travail de recherche et les activités connexes réalisés par les parasitologistes durant la dernière année et trace les grandes lignes de la planification pour le futur immédiat. Un sommaire met en lumière ces accomplissements et donne un aperçu global des priorités de recherche du MPO pour la Zone atlantique canadienne ainsi que pour chacune des régions. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The fourth meeting of DFO's parasitologists from the Atlantic Regions was organized by the Parasitology CODE of the Maurice Lamontagne Institute and hosted on 29 September, 1994 by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John's, Nfld. A total of eight scientists and technical support staff representing all of DFOYsAtlantic laboratories and one international laboratory were in attendance (see Annex 1). The goal of the meeting was to review parasitological research accomplished by the DFO in Atlantic Canada since September 1993 and that proposed for the coming year (1995-1996). During the workshop, scientists from the various laboratories presented information related to these goals (see Reports of the Regions), and discussed possible studies for the more distant future. A special guest at this meeting was Dr. Alistair McVicar of the Marine Laboratory, Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Aberdeen, who presented a review of the research in progress at his laboratory. Below we highlight some of the accomplishments of members the Parasitology Working Group and outline the research priorities for the Atlantic Canada zone and the regions. ACCOMPLISHMENTS During 1993194, significant progress was made towards completing DFOYsgoals for sealworm research as outlined under the former SeaVSealworm Ecology Program (SSEP). A special effort is under way to produce a new sealworm model. To this end, a separate premodelling meeting of scientists involved in SSEP and others was held at the NAFC on 28 September to review the status of research (see Annex III). Some of the noteworthy activities undertaken in 199311994 include: For the Gulf Region: - Studies on a viral disease of American oyster (with IFREMER) and transplant experiments to investigate Malpeque disease of oysters - Work towards completion of a major survey of bivalve parasites - Work towards completion of protocols for shellfish health diagnostics (part of the Shellfish Health Regulations) and preparation of a Synopsis of Diseases of Shellfish For the Newfoundland Region: - Assessment of the role of various seal species and of harbour porpoise in the transmission of nematodes to commercial fishes - Studies