Parasite diversity from two deep-sea fishes Phycis blennoides (Brunnich, 1768) and Phycis phycis (Linne, 1758), from the western Algerian coasts
Abstract
M.M. Hassani, A. Kerfouf, A. Baaloudj* and F. Denis
This study investigated the diversity of metazoan parasites of 132 greater forkbeards and 91 forkbeards, from the western Algerian coasts, a total of 19 taxa: 15 taxa from Phycis blennoides; 11 taxa from Phycis phycis, allocated to 15 genera in 12 families were recovered, including 7species common to the two hosts. 90% are endoparasites, mostly located in the intestine and the stomach, encapsulate forms were in the liver, whereas crustaceans were found in the gills of the hosts. The Anisakidae Railliet & Henry, (1912) is the most diverse group with two genera: Hysterothylacium Ward & Magath, (1917) and Anisakis Dujardin, (1845) with 5 species. The nematode Hysterothylacium fabri (P= 55%) and the digenean Stephanostomum pristis are the most abundant and the most prevalent parasites from P. phycis (P=94%), while Hysterothylacium aduncum (P=49%) and Lepidapedon guevarai (P=87%) are from P. blennoides. 14 parasites species are present as adult stage, indicated that these fish act as their definitive hosts, while cosmopolite species are present in the larval stage. We also noticed a high ectoparasites infection level from hosts gills Clavella alata (P=45%) in greater forkbeards and Gnathia sp (P=65%) from forkbeards. Phycis blennoides and Phycis phycis are new hosts records for Cucullanus cirratus, Capillaria gracilis, Derogenese varicus and Lecithocldium excisum.