Helminths parasites of Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) from the harbour of Mehdia-Kenitra (Atlantic Coast of Morocco)

Abstract

The following helminths parasites of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn 1782) from the harbour of Mehdia in Morocco, are reported in this work: Monogenea: Grubea cochlear (Diesing 1858), Kuhnia scombri (Kuhn 1829), Digenea: Lecithocladium excisum (Rudolphi 1819), Lepidapedon elongatum (Lebour 1908), Didymocystis coatesi (Ariola 1902), Cestoda: Proteocephalus sp. (Weinland 1858), Nybelinia sp. (Poche 1926). Nematoda: Anisakis sp. (Dujardin 1845), Contracaecum sp. (Railliet and Henry 1912), Spinitectus sp. (Fourment 1883), Raphidascaris sp. (Railliet and Henry 1915), Acanthocephala: Rhadinorhynchus pristis (Rudolphi 1802). Nematodes were the majority of the parasites specimens collected (53.40%), Anisakis sp. was the dominant species with highest prevalence (86.67%) and abundance (10.57%).

Key words: Helminth, parasites, Scomber japonicus Morocco.

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.20(1) 2005: 63-67