Morphological characterization of Dujardinascaris spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the Mediterranean Sea

The striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformis: Mullidae) has a high commercial value and therewithal is a common demersal fish of the Mediterranean Sea, therefore studying the helminth parasites of this fish is required. Anisakids nematodes are common parasites of animals including human causing economic losses and different parasitic diseases. During the present study, the nematode Dujardinascaris spp. (Anisakidae) was described from the body cavity and small intestine of Mullus surmuletus in the Alexandria, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt as new host and new geographical record. Forty-five (37.5%) fish out of (120) were found infected by the parasite. The morphological features of the collected nematode were investigated by both light and scanning electron microscopy. The study revealed that the specimens were characterized from other species of the genus by the presence of two large lateral pouches attached to each cephalic lip, the different large-sized papillae on the cephalic region and on the dorsal surface of the nematode cuticle.