Presence of Diplostomum in the eye chambers of fish from the estuarine zone of Chachalacas, Veracruz

Abstract

The trematodes Diplostomum are of very low host specificity, so they parasitize a wide variety of freshwater fish of various species. However, it is necessary to expand studies in estuarine species because their mobility between fresh, brackish and marine environments can allow parasites to find a greater number of hosts between the different environments through which they move. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the presence of Diplostomum in fish collected for consumption in the estuarine zone of Chachalacas, Veracruz. From 2014 to 2024 a total of 592 fish were collected, of which the eye cavities were examined for the detection of trematodes. Of the fish collected, 376 were positive for the fluke, where a total of 574 metacercariae were obtained, in ten different species of fish. The common mullet (Múgil cephalus) had the highest parasitic incidence with 20.96%, followed by the sea bass (Centropomus undecimalis) with 16.67%. It is important to mention that the presence of the parasite was also identified in needlefish of the fish Belone, a marine species with only one previous report of involvement by Diplostomum.

Keywords: Diplostomum, metacercariae, fish, Chachalacas, Veracruz.