<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Globally, the exploitation of small pelagic fish, like Pacific mackerel is of great importance due to food industry demand. However, there are few studies regarding its parasites load and there are no in this geographic zone. This study aimed to assess the parasitic composition, some temporal changes (during spring and summer) in abundance, prevalence and intensity of infection parasitic of the Pacific mackerel (<italic>Scomber japonicus</italic>) from Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico. The parasite fauna of the Pacific mackerel consisted of 1930 parasites (1413 in spring and 517 in summer) distributed in the follow taxa: an Tetraphyllidea (Cestoda), <italic>Kuhnia scombri</italic> (Monogenea), Didymozoidae (Digenea), <italic>Anisakis</italic> sp. (Nematoda), <italic>Rhadinorhynchus</italic> sp. (Acanthocephala) and <italic>Caligus pelamydis</italic> (Copepoda). The nematodes parasite were the most abundant both in spring with a mean abundance of 27.6 parasites and in summer 8.2 parasites compared with the other taxa like Cestoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Acanthocephala and Copepoda (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003). The mean intensity of the nematodes in spring and summer was 28.1 and 13.4, respectively. The nematodes prevalence was 90 % in spring and 60 % in summer. In general, the parasite load is more abundant in spring than summer. In summer, absence of taxa as Cestoda and Copepoda were registered. Nematode larvae were present in the fish guts mesentery and inside of the stomach, pyloric caeca, intestine. Also the nematodes were found in the liver, muscle and gonads. The most affected organ by nematodes was the intestine mesentery. The most predominant parasite of this study has been <italic>Anisakis</italic> sp. during spring.</p>
</abstract>

Globally, the exploitation of small pelagic fish, like Pacific mackerel is of great importance due to food industry demand. However, there are few studies regarding its parasites load and there are no in this geographic zone. This study aimed to assess the parasitic composition, some temporal changes (during spring and summer) in abundance, prevalence and intensity of infection parasitic of the Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) from Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico. The parasite fauna of the Pacific mackerel consisted of 1930 parasites (1413 in spring and 517 in summer) distributed in the follow taxa: an Tetraphyllidea (Cestoda), Kuhnia scombri (Monogenea), Didymozoidae (Digenea), Anisakis sp. (Nematoda), Rhadinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala) and Caligus pelamydis (Copepoda). The nematodes parasite were the most abundant both in spring with a mean abundance of 27.6 parasites and in summer 8.2 parasites compared with the other taxa like Cestoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Acanthocephala and Copepoda (P = 0.003). The mean intensity of the nematodes in spring and summer was 28.1 and 13.4, respectively. The nematodes prevalence was 90 % in spring and 60 % in summer. In general, the parasite load is more abundant in spring than summer. In summer, absence of taxa as Cestoda and Copepoda were registered. Nematode larvae were present in the fish guts mesentery and inside of the stomach, pyloric caeca, intestine. Also the nematodes were found in the liver, muscle and gonads. The most affected organ by nematodes was the intestine mesentery. The most predominant parasite of this study has been Anisakis sp. during spring.

Parasitic load of the Pacific mackerel, <italic>Scomber japonicus</italic> (Pisces: Scombridae) from Northwestern Baja California, Mexico

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)

UABC. Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Parasitic load of the Pacific mackerel,  (Pisces: Scombridae) from Northwestern Baja California, Mexico

Globally, the exploitation of small pelagic fish, like Pacific mackerel is of great importance due to food industry demand. However, there are few studies...

Parasitic load of the Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (Pisces: Scombridae) from Northwestern Baja California, Mexico

Published Online: Dec 31, 2023

Page range: 370 - 379

Received: May 17, 2023

Accepted: Sep 28, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2023-0039

Keywords
Pacific mackerel, helminth parasites,

© 2023 M. Vivanco-Aranda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Parasitic load of the Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (Pisces: Scombridae) from Northwestern Baja California, Mexico

Published Online: Dec 31, 2023

Page range: 370 - 379

Received: May 17, 2023

Accepted: Sep 28, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2023-0039

KeywordsPacific mackerel, helminth parasites,

© 2023 M. Vivanco-Aranda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Pacific mackerel, helminth parasites,