&lt;b&gt;Detection of Anisakidae larvae parasitizing &lt;i&gt;Plagioscion squamosissimus&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Pellona castelnaeana&lt;/i&gt; in the State of Pará, Brazil

Núbia Lorena Farias Rabelo,Raul Henrique Da Silva Pinheiro,Laudemir Roberto Ferreira Araujo,Thatyana Cristina Muniz E Silva,Carlos Alberto Machado Da Rocha

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v39i3.35615

Abstract

Five specimens of Plagioscion squamosissimus from Xingu River and ten specimens of Pellona castelnaeana from Mosqueiro Island, both in the State of Para, Brazil, were examined to investigate the presence of anisakid nematodes, due to their zoonotic potential. Their parasitism indices and sites of infection were also determined. This is the first record of Anisakidae parasitizing Pellona castelnaeana . Four-hundred and eighty-four third-stage larvae (L 3 ) of Anisakidae were found, of which 42 were found in P. squamosissimus and 442 in P. castelnaeana . The parasitism indices of the anisakid collected from the P. squamosissimus comprised prevalence (P) of 100%, mean infection intensity (MI) of 8.4, range of infection (RI) of 1-13, mean abundance (MA) of 8.4, and infection site (IS) in the abdominal cavity. P. castelnaeana showed P = 100%, MI = 44.2, RI = 10-114, MA = 44.2, and IS = abdominal cavity, cecum and stomach. The life cycle of these nematodes can be completed in the Amazon basin, since the two hosts fish are part of the cetacean diet of the region, which participate as final hosts. These findings have an important consequence on epidemiology of anisakiasis, so attention should be extended to human protection against this public health risk.

Highlights

The presence of parasites in fish is relatively frequent and has many consequences related mainly with economic and health aspects
The present study aimed to report the presence of larval stages of anisakid nematodes in Plagioscion squamosissimus from Xingu River, near the municipality of Altamira, and Pellona castelnaeana from Mosqueiro Island, in the municipality of Belém, both in the State of Pará, Brazil, and to determine their parasitism indices and infection sites
All fish specimens investigated were infested with living third-stage larvae (L3) of Anisakidae: five specimens of P. squamosissimus containing 42 L3; and ten specimens of P. castelnaeana containing 442 L3

Summary

Introduction

The presence of parasites in fish is relatively frequent and has many consequences related mainly with economic and health aspects. Some parasites generate high mortality in fish and cause tissue damage leading to economic loss (Ferre, 2001). Fish have their own parasitic fauna with numerous parasitic species distributed. Biological Sciences and classified in major taxonomic groups (Luque, 2004). The fauna of freshwater parasites may have different compositions, depending on the host species, trophic level occupied by the host, age, size, sex, and other biotic and abiotic factors. The fish can harbor adult worms and their larvae (Takemoto, Lizama, Guidelli, & Pavanelli, 2004)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion