Anisakid parasites of two forkbeards (Phycis blennoides and Phycis phycis) from the Mediterranean coasts of Andalucía (Southern Spain)

Parasitol Int. 2006 Mar;55(1):1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2005.07.001. Epub 2005 Sep 15.

Abstract

An epidemiological survey of anisakids was carried out on 209 specimens of greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides) and 58 of forkbeard (Phycis phycis) captured off the Mediterranean coasts of Andalucía (southern Spain). Four species of nematodes were identified: Anisakis simplex s.l., Anisakis physeteris, Hysterothylacium aduncum and Hysterothylacium fabri. The total prevalence was 62.06% in the forkbeard and 58.85% in the greater forkbeard. The highest values of prevalence (56.90%), mean intensity (5.21) and mean abundance (2.96) were all obtained for H. fabri in the forkbeard. The most frequent parasite in the greater forkbeard was H. aduncum with 51.20% prevalence and values of 3.00 and 1.53 for mean intensity and mean abundance, respectively. The infestation parameters were also analyzed according to the host length, observing a maximum of parasitized fish (91.67%) in samples of P. blennoides longer than 40 cm, while in P. phycis, the highest prevalence (82.35%), conditioned by H. fabri parasitization, was found in fish with lengths between 30 and 35 cm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anisakis / isolation & purification
  • Ascaridida Infections / epidemiology
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary*
  • Ascaridoidea / classification
  • Ascaridoidea / isolation & purification*
  • Body Size
  • Fish Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Gadiformes / parasitology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Muscles / parasitology
  • Prevalence
  • Spain / epidemiology