First record of anisakid juveniles (Nematoda) in the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (family: Moronidae), and their role as bio-indicators of heavy metal pollution

Abstract

This study assessed the anisakid nematode distribution pattern in the fish collected from coasts of Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, during the period September 2010-April 2011. Two hundred thirty out of 300 (76.7%) Dicentrarchus labrax (European seabass) marine fishes belonging to family Moronidae were dissected and found to be infected with larva three nematodes. The larvae had been studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The present work represents the first record of the presence of the parasite in this fish in the Mediterranean Sea. The concentrations of some heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni) in parasites as well as in tissues of fish were measured. The presented results showed that the nematode parasites are able to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues and in some cases that they are able to accumulate large amounts of heavy metals in a higher amount than host tissues. This demonstrated their sustainability as bioindicators of environmental pollution by removing heavy metals and help in the survival of fish.

Trace Elements in Whiting Merlangius Merlangus and Its Parasite Hysterothylacium Aduncum: Role of Age, Size and Parasitism on the Host

“…In our study, in accordance, we found that Cr and Co were markedly higher in parasites than that in the host tissues. Morsy et al (2012) All trace elements accumulated at higher levels in parasites than in tissues of host, in accordance to the findings of some researchers (Azmat et al, 2008;Eira et al, 2009;Sures, 2003). Most studies of parasite bioaccumulation have used acanthocephalans as model organisms.…”

“…This is in contrast with previous report showing that infested fish have lower levels of metals compared to non-infested fish from the same area (Azmat et al, 2008;Morsy et al, 2012). It is possible to argue that the amount of trace elements is expected higher in infested fish comparing to non-infested fish: since parasites compete with their hosts for nutrients, this would also lead to sharing of trace elements between host and parasite.…”

Nematodes parasitizing Trachurus trachurus (L.) and Boops boops (L.) from Algeria

“…Many studies were conducted on Anisakidae parasitizing Mediterranean fishes with high commercial value: Greece (Papoutsoglou 1975;Chaligiannisa et al 2012), Spain (Valero et al 2000;Valero et al 2006;Rello et al 2008;Gutiérrez-Galindo et al 2010), Italy (Larizza and Vovlas 1995), Egypt (Morsy et al 2012), and North African central Mediterranean coasts (Farjallah et al 2008).…”

Cytokine signature and antibody-mediated response against fresh and attenuated Anisakis simplex (L3) administration into Wistar rats: implication for anti-allergic reaction

“…Recent studies have also shown high prevalence of Anisakis spp. in salmonid species, and the worms were mostly found in the musculature or encapsulated on the visceral organs, mesenteries, and peritoneum (Smith 1984;Sugawara et al 2004;Noguera et al 2009;Morsy et al 2012).…”