Publication Abstract

X-cell lesions in Notothenia, (Lepidonptothen) squamifrons Gunther

D. Bucke and I. Everson

"X-cell" lesions have been described in several fish species, mostly gadoids (Peyron & Thomas 1929; Lange 1973; McCain et al. 1979; Egidius et al. 1981; Morrison et al. 1982; Watermann et al. 1982) and pleuronectids (McArn et al. 1968; Wellings et al. 1976; McVicar et al. 1987; Diamant & McVicar 1989), inhabiting the northern seas. There have been few recordings of the disease in teleosts in southern waters, notably the Jack mackerel, Trachurus japonica (Munday, pers. comm.), the Chilean hake, Merluccius gayi gayi (Gorgollón et al. 1982), and Pagothenia borchgrevinki (Franklin & Davison 1988). The latter report concerned a Nototheniid teleost, the commonest of the few teleost families found in Antarctic waters. This current re-port is of "X-cell" disease in another Nototheniid species, Notothenia (Lepidonotothen) squamifrons, from the South Georgia region of the Southern At-lantic Ocean. Franklin & Davison (1988) observed the "X-cell" lesions to be in the gills of P. borchgrevinki, whereas in N. squamifrons the lesions were sited in the hypodermis, as described for some pleuronectid species (McCarn et al. 1968).

Reference:

D. Bucke and I. Everson, 1992. X-cell lesions in Notothenia, (Lepidonptothen) squamifrons Gunther. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, 12(3): 83-86