Infection by the marine cestode Hepatoxylon trichiuri in returning Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawners in Patagonia: Implications for a novel fishery

Parasitological information may be useful for managing economically important fisheries by providing insights into population dynamics and health effects. The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), an invasive species with high socio-ecological importance in South America, supports recreational and incipient artisanal fisheries. In Southern Chile, the recent approval of coastal fisheries for returning Chinook salmon in some regions highlights the importance of understanding salmon foraging, habitat use, and commercial value. However, such information is lacking. Parasites have been extensively used as cost-effective biological tags to identify fish stocks. We conducted the first parasitological examination of the marine tapeworm Hepatoxylon trichiuri larvae in returning adult Chinook salmon from the Cisnes River to assess its potential as a biological tag for returning Chinook salmon in Patagonia. Of 61 Chinook salmon from the Cisnes River, 52.46% were infected by H. trichiuri, with 1.65 ± 1.26 parasites per infected salmon (mean ± SD). Infection prevalence and intensity did not differ significantly between males and females. Infection intensity was higher in larger salmon but decreased with increasing salmon condition. Infection intensity was not significantly related to length, mass, or body condition. Infection prevalence and intensity of H. trichiuri varied spatially among Patagonian river-basin populations of Chinook salmon, thereby supporting the use of H. trichiuri as a biological tag. Our findings provide important parasitological metrics that may enhance future management practices by informing geographic variability in foraging locations of adult salmon and their commercial value for human consumption.