Identification of the world's deepest recorded deep-sea trematode species

Dr. Tsukasa Waki from the Faculty of Science at Toho University, Dr. Takashi Kumagai from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Nippon Bunri University (formerly, Tokyo Medical and Dental University during the research), and Mr. Yuma Nishino from the Japan Game Fish Association detected and identified a parasitic trematode, Lepidapedon oregonense from the deep-sea fish Coelorinchus gilberti (grenadiers). DNA analysis of this trematode revealed that it was identical to the previously “unidentified species of the world’s deepest-recorded trematode,” documented through DNA samples collected at a depth of approximately 6200 m in the deep sea. Thus, the trematode species collected from the world’s deepest recorded depth has been elucidated.
This research was published in the Journal of Helminthology (ISSN: 0022-149X (Print), 1475-2697 (Online)) on May 9, 2024.