Cestode and nematode larvae of hygienic-sanitary importance parasitizing Percophis brasiliensis (Actinopterygii) collected from fish markets of the municipality of Niterói, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

Percophis brasiliensis is a fish species appreciated as a fried appetizer at beachside kiosks of Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The constant presence of helminth larvae in the viscera and serosa of individuals of the species has been the subject of complaints among local fish traders because of economic losses due to their repugnant aspect. Considering their hygienic-sanitary importance and significance for collective health, the presence of helminth larvae was investigated in 64 individual fish of P. brasiliensis purchased from Niterói fish markets in 2019. Cestodes, identified as larvae of Grillotia carvajalregorum, were found parasitizing the serosa of the stomach, mesentery and abdominal cavity. Nematodes, identified as third-instar larvae of Contracaecum sp., Terranova sp., Hysterothylacium deardorffoverstreetorum, H. fortalezae and Raphidascaris sp., were found parasitizing the stomach, intestine, liver, gonads, stomach serosa, mesentery and abdominal cavity. The highest parasitic indices were for G. carvajalregorum and H. deardorffoverstreetorum, with prevalences of 100% and 81.25%, mean intensities of 8.05 and 8.13, mean abundances of 8.05 and 6.61 and infection ranges of 1-131 and 1-42 specimens per host, respectively. Considerations about the zoonotic potential and hygienic-sanitary significance of these parasites are presented in order to increase food safety for consumers.

Cestode and nematode larvae of hygienic-sanitary importance parasitizing Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789, collected from fish markets of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…had higher prevalence and mean abundance in the present study. Features observed among and within ecoregions are known to influence fish parasite communities and explain differences in species assemblages of parasites of teleost fish, as observed by Diniz et al (2021). This difference in B. capriscus from off the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between the present and previous studies in the same ecoregion, appears to indicate that this fish species has variability in the trophic web that determines variability in the richness and abundance of larval helminths.…”

“…The allergenic potential of H. deardorffoverestreetorum collected from other Brazilian marine fish hosts, was recently demonstrated using a murine model (Ribeiro et al, 2017). Preventive measures can reduce risks to consumer health, such as the evisceration of fish immediately after capture to reduce the risk of migration by raphidascaridid larvae to host musculature, as suggested by Diniz et al (2021).…”

“…Adults inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of elasmobranchs while larvae occur in the celomic cavity, visceral serosa and musculature of cephalopod, crustacean and teleost intermediate hosts (Palm, 2004). Parasitism of Brazilian fish by trypanorhynch larvae has been reported in papers on taxonomy, parasite ecology and hygienicsanitary conditions (São Clemente et al, 1997;Felizardo et al, 2010, Oliveira et al, 2019, Diniz et al, 2021. Trypanorhynch larvae acquire significance due to their repugnant aspect, especially when present as massive infections in musculature and organs, which can make commercialization infeasible due to sanitary inspection and/or consumer rejection, thus resulting in economic losses (Oliveira et al, 2019;Diniz et al, 2021).…”

“…Parasitism of Brazilian fish by trypanorhynch larvae has been reported in papers on taxonomy, parasite ecology and hygienicsanitary conditions (São Clemente et al, 1997;Felizardo et al, 2010, Oliveira et al, 2019, Diniz et al, 2021. Trypanorhynch larvae acquire significance due to their repugnant aspect, especially when present as massive infections in musculature and organs, which can make commercialization infeasible due to sanitary inspection and/or consumer rejection, thus resulting in economic losses (Oliveira et al, 2019;Diniz et al, 2021). The allergenic potential of some of these cestode species has been studied in tests using murine models (Mattos et al, 2015).…”

“…Humans become accidental hosts by eating infected raw or undercooked fish (Anderson, 2000). Anisakid and raphidascaridid larvae have been reported parasitizing several marine fish species in Brazil (Knoff et al, 2007;Felizardo et al, 2009;Fontenelle et al, 2015;Fonseca et al, 2016, Diniz et al, 2021. Audicana & Kennedy (2008) reported the zoonotic potential of anisakid nematodes because they can cause allergic and/or anaphylactic reactions and gastrointestinal problems.…”