<i>Contracaecum<i> spp. (NEMATODA: ANISAKIDAE) AND <i>Eustrongylides<i> spp. (NEMATODA: DIOCTOPHYMATIDAE) NEMATODE LARVAE WITH ZOONOTIC POTENCIAL FOUND IN TWO FISH SPECIES FROM TRAMANDAÍ RIVER BASIN, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes can infect both wild and cultivated fish species and may be the source of many diseases. The consumption of raw fish meat in many countries has been the responsible of nematode related zoonosis. Knowing the risk of consumption of contaminated fish by the local communities, the main goal of this paper is to quantify and report the presence of larvae with zoonotic potential of Contracaecum spp. and Eustrongylides spp. found in two exotic fish species from the Tramandaí­­ River Basin in southern Brazil. The sample sites were two lagoons of the basin, the Itapeva lagoon and Palmital lagoon, sampled in the period of April 2018. Forty specimens of Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro and twenty specimens of Trachelyopterus lucenai were examined. A. pantaneiro presented a 58% and 4% prevalence and a mean intensity of 3.17 and 1 for Contracaecum spp. and Eustrongylides spp., respectively. Meanwhile T. lucenai presented a prevalence of 70% and 5% and a mean intensity of 1.92 and 1 of Contracaecum spp. larvae and Eustrongylides spp. larvae, respectively. Although larvae of Contracaeucum spp. are reported only in the literature in experimental infections, they were able to complete their biological cycle in some mammals with certain pathogeneses. However, larvae of Eustrongylides spp. infect humans, as reported in the literature, causing severe damage to the intestinal tract. Knowing that local populations may be at risk, we recommend that all prophylactic measures be taken in relation to fish consumption. This study also contributes to the knowledge concerning the parasitic fauna of the host species studied.