Infection of Atlantic tripletail (Teleostei: Lobotidae) by brain metacercariae (Digenea: Strigeidae).

Three juvenile Atlantic tripletail caught opportunistically in Charleston Harbor (South Carolina, USA) and maintained in captivity for over three months displayed an altered swimming behavior. While no direct causation can be demonstrated herein, fish were infected in their brain by strigeid trematode larvae (metacercariae) of , which were identified via ITS2 and 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing Histology showed nonencysted metacercariae within the brain ventricle between the optic tectum and tegmentum, causing distortion of tegmental parenchyma. Aggregates of mononuclear inflammatory cells were in the ventricle adjacent to metacercariae.