Abstract

VALLES-RIOS, Martha E; RUIZ-CAMPOS, Gorgonio  and  GALAVIZ-SILVA, Lucio. Prevalencia e intensidad parasitaria en Mugil cephalus (Pisces: Mugilidae), del Río Colorado, Baja California, México. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2000, vol.48, n.2-3, pp.495-501. ISSN 0034-7744.

The parasitic prevalence and mean intensity in the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, was seasonally determined during an annual cycle (February 1994 to February 1995) in the confluence of the Colorado and Hardy rivers, Baja California, México. Two species of parasites were identified, a nematode, Contracaecum multipapillatum (von Drasche, 1882) (Ascaridida: Anisakidae), and a copepod, Ergasilus versicolor Wilson, 1911 (Poecilostomatoida: Ergasilidae). The larvae of C. multipapillatum, which were represented by two size classes (A and B stages), had prevalences of 30% and 14.5%, respectively; while A. versicolor had a prevalence of 72.7%. The mean intensity of C. multipapillatum was 6.18 and 2.37 individuals per infected fish for A and B stages, respectively; and for A. versicolor, it was of 4.01. The number of parasites (taxa combined) increased with the size of fish (r= 0.22, p= 0.02), but it was independent of the host’s condition factor (K_SL).

Keywords : Mugil cephalus; parasites; prevalence; México.