In the current study, a total of 102 common Todarodes pacificus squid caught in the East Sea were investigated for parasitological research. The results revealed that 33 (32.35%) out of 102 squid were infected by Nybelinia surmenicola, the mean intensity was 5.58 parasites per squid, and the maximum abundance was 11. Morphological analysis using a field emission scanning electron microscope showed the characteristic features of N. surmenicola. Molecular identification based on the 28S rRNA gene confirmed the isolated parasite as N. surmenicola, while phylogenetic analysis revealed that N. surmenicola isolated in this study was clustered with N. surmenicola isolated from Japan. This is the first report of phylogenetic characterization of N. surmenicola isolated from Korea.

• Jin Woo Jun(Department of Aquaculture, Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries)
• Sib Sankar Giri(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Hyoun Joong Kim(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Saekil Yun(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Cheng Chi(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Sang Guen Kim(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Sang Wha Kim(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Jeong Woo Kang(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Se Jin Han(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Jun Kwon(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Woo Taek Oh(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University)
• Dalsang Jeong(Department of Aquaculture, Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries)
• Se Chang Park(Laboratory of Aquatic Biomedicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University) Corresponding Author