Morphological, molecular and pathological appraisal of Callitetrarhynchus gracilis plerocerci (Lacistorhynchidae) infecting Atlantic little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) in Southeastern Mediterranean.

ABSTRACT: The Atlantic little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, is widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Black and Mediterranean Seas. In this study, wild-caught little tunny from Egypt, were found to be naturally infected with trypanorhyncha metacestodes, and the overall prevalence rate of infection was 38.7%. The blastocysts were either loosely attached to the mesentery of infected fish, or firmly attached and deeply embedded within the hepatic parenchyma. These encysted plerocerci are identified as Callitetrarhynchus gracilis (Trypanorhyncha, Lacistorhynchidae) based on its morphological and molecular characterization. The morphological characteristics of C. gracilis including scolex shape; the bothridia groove; the presence of frontal glands; the length of post-

SUBMITTER: Abdelsalam M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4767807 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature