Helminth infection in Mugil incilis from Cartagena de Indias, Colombian Caribbean coast

Abstract

Abstract This survey records the occurrence of larvae of Contracaecum multipapillatum sensu lato (Von Drasche, 1882) Lucker, 1941 (Nematoda, Anisakidae) and adults of Floridosentis mugilis (Machado Filho, 1951) Ward, 1953 (Acanthocephala, Neoechinorhynchidae) in mullet Mugil incilis Hancock, 1830 caught in La Boquilla, Cartagena de Indias (Colombian Caribbean coast). The prevalence of F. mugilis was 45.7 % and of C. multipapillatum s.l. 58.6 %, while 28.6 % of the fish were parasitized by both species. The smallest hosts presented the lowest prevalence of F. mugilis but the highest prevalence of C. multipapillatum s.l.. Prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of C. multipapillatum s.l. in M. incilis were all highest in viscera. The prevalence in fish muscle tissue was low (2.9 %).