Helminth parasites of some coastal fishes from Madeira, Portugal

Costa, Graça; Biscoito, Manuel

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/4771

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Authors

Costa, Graça

Biscoito, Manuel

Abstract(s)

One hundred and fifty-one fish belonging to six different species, from Madeira, Atlantic Ocean, were examined for helminth infections. All the fish examined shared the same type of littoral habitat characterized by rocky and sandy bottoms. However their feeding ecology was slightly different resulting in variations in their parasite composition. In the blue damselfish, Abudefduf luridus, which is mostly herbivorous but ingesting also the associated invertebrate fauna, the digeneans dominated, while the Atlantic damselfish, Chromis limbata, which preys on plank tonic and benthic organisms, was infected mainly by anisakid nematodes, larval acanthocephalans and digenean lepocreadids, usually transmitted by planktonic and benthic invertebrates. Similarly in the Turkish wrasse, Thalassoma pavo, pelagically transmitted parasites clearly dominated (Hysterothylacium, Scolex pleuronectis, acanthocephalans). Despite the similarities in both habitat and feeding ecologies of the two sparids, Boops boops and Diplodus vulgaris, some differences were found in their parasite faunas. Both species shared the acanthocephalans and Hysterothylacium sp. but differed in the presence of Meinertia parallela in B. boops and its absence in D. vulgaris.

Keywords

Helminth parasites Coastal fishes Madeira (Portugal) . Faculdade de Ciências da Vida

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/4771

Citation

Costa, G., & Biscoito, M. (2003). Helminth parasites of some coastal fishes from Madeira, Portugal.Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP Bulletin), 23(6), 281-286.