Parasitofauna isolated from fish off the east Algerian coast

Abstract

Between January 2011 and January 2013, parasitofauna of 1643 specimens, obtained both from wild sources (n= 1545) and aquaculture (n= 98) were studied. From 14 fish species, 17 parasitic species were isolated, of which three species represent a new geographical record. Despite their low infestation rate, some isolated parasite species induce serious necrosis, alterations and atrophies to the muscle, mouth cavity and tongue of their hosts by Pyroderma cylindricum (P= 9.37%; I= 1); Lerneolophus sultanus (P= 9.09%; I= 1), and Ceratothoa oestroides (P= 0.62%; I= 1), respectively. Similar pathological effects were observed in gill filaments infected by Naeobranchia sygniformis (P= 27.27%; I= 1). Among the most abundant isolated parasites was the nematode, Anguillicola crassus (P= 42.53%; I= 6.11) infecting the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, which caused an evident inflammatory reaction of the swim-bladder. The present study improves our knowledge on Algerian fish parasitofauna