Char parasitic cysts

[dadamice]

I was curious if anyone else has observed this...I've fished Clunie on Ft Rich several times, and I'd estimate that at least 75% of the dolley varden I catch have some sort of white, small/hard parasitic (i.e., tiny white worm when cut open) cysts in the muscle layer of their belly flaps.  Rainbows & landlocks from this same lake have none.  I've not observed dolleys/chars from any other lake in the valley with these cysts.  Anybody out there with similar observations or ideas what these are?  Just curious.

[Grizzly1]

I've seen them in both rainbows and dollies, I usually remove the ones I can get to easily and the rest I eat , just be sure to cook the fish well, might not be a bad idea to freeze the fish.

[Barleydog]

dadamice,
Cysts eh! We call them tapeworms, but since there's a couple different species that inhibit the flesh... They do "POP" when you eat them!  I have eaten lots of these little bugs and still remain obese!  They're ok if you cook them or at least freeze them out...  I don't eat sushi, so that's probably why they haven't feasted on my insides. Hmmmm, sounds like a great diet plan eh?  Seriously, I have found them quite common in halibut and salmon too.  Just cut most of them out, and follow a couple precautions.

- Do not eat raw or undercooked fish from infected lakes.

- Freeze fish at -10°C for 24 hours.

- Cook fish to 54 to 56°C for 5 minutes or until cooked throughout.
 
- Clean fish immediately after catching; do not feed fresh fish or viscera to your dog or other pets.
 
- Marinating or lightly pickling fish will not kill all the plerocercoid.

Not one for attaching useless material on a "CHAT" board, but here's some good reading that will help you out...


http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g03015.html

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex10097

[dadamice]

Okie Dokie....learned something new today.  Thanks for the info.