Mullus surmuletus is a species of high commercial interest and represents one of the main targets of artisanal fishing. This species lives in shallow coastal areas, over rocky to sandy bottoms, and recruits in Posidonia oceanica beds. Its particular feeding habit of scouring in the sediment in search of preys makes this fish a susceptible host for several parasites species. Several studies about the parasite fauna of M. surmuletus in Mediterranean sea have been carried out in the last decades, however there is a lack of knowledge about Ionian sea. In the present study, a total of 90 specimens of M. surmuletus were sampled from the Marine Protected Area of Porto Cesareo (Ionian sea) from January to June 2013. Fish were caught by trammel nets and collection sites geo referred. Each specimen was measured and weighted, and then dissected for parasitological examination mainly aimed to investigate the presence of anisakid nematodes. The collected anisakids were then identified, through morphological and molecular analyses, as Hysterothylacium fabri (Nematoda, Anisakidae). The occurrence of different developmental stages of H. fabri was observed in all (100%) of the examined specimens, with infection intensities ranging from 1 to 77 (Mean Intensity 22.86). Although H. fabri has already been reported from M. surmuletus in Mediterranean sea, our results show the highest prevalence so far observed in this host. Ecological and environmental determinants are discussed.
Anisakid parasites of striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus L.) from Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area (Southern Italy, Ionian Sea).
GUSTINELLI, ANDREA;CAFFARA, MONICA;FIORAVANTI, MARIALETIZIA;
2013
Abstract
Mullus surmuletus is a species of high commercial interest and represents one of the main targets of artisanal fishing. This species lives in shallow coastal areas, over rocky to sandy bottoms, and recruits in Posidonia oceanica beds. Its particular feeding habit of scouring in the sediment in search of preys makes this fish a susceptible host for several parasites species. Several studies about the parasite fauna of M. surmuletus in Mediterranean sea have been carried out in the last decades, however there is a lack of knowledge about Ionian sea. In the present study, a total of 90 specimens of M. surmuletus were sampled from the Marine Protected Area of Porto Cesareo (Ionian sea) from January to June 2013. Fish were caught by trammel nets and collection sites geo referred. Each specimen was measured and weighted, and then dissected for parasitological examination mainly aimed to investigate the presence of anisakid nematodes. The collected anisakids were then identified, through morphological and molecular analyses, as Hysterothylacium fabri (Nematoda, Anisakidae). The occurrence of different developmental stages of H. fabri was observed in all (100%) of the examined specimens, with infection intensities ranging from 1 to 77 (Mean Intensity 22.86). Although H. fabri has already been reported from M. surmuletus in Mediterranean sea, our results show the highest prevalence so far observed in this host. Ecological and environmental determinants are discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
