Integrative identification of Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from grey mullet Mugil cephalus and cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean off Peru

IF 1.6 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-11-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-22 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101385

C. Villena , M. Ramos , N. Daga , S. Santillán , C. Cruces , L.A. Ñacari , E. Arias , A. Mondragón-Martínez , R. Martínez-Rojas , J.L. Luque , J. Chero

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Abstract

An integrative morphological and molecular approach was employed to characterize larval and adult stages of Contracaecum spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) parasitizing the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus and the red-legged cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi along the Peruvian coast. A total of 24 third-stage larvae (L3) were recovered from the kidneys of M. cephalus, while two adult male specimens and one additional larva were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract and ingested prey of P. gaimardi. Morphologically, all specimens shared key diagnostic features of the genus Contracaecum. Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cox2 gene revealed a high degree of similarity (98.95–99.16 %) to a sequence identified as C. multipapillatum (AF179910); however, the original host, locality, and developmental stage of that reference sequence are unknown, raising doubts about its taxonomic validity. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirmed that both larval and adult specimens clustered with this species with strong nodal support. Nonetheless, marked differences in spicule size and the pattern of papillae suggest that the adult specimens may represent an undescribed species within the C. multipapillatum complex. Given the limited number of adult specimens available, a conservative taxonomic approach is adopted, and further sampling is recommended. This study provides the first genetic confirmation of Contracaecum larvae in M. cephalus in Peru, may suggest a potential trophic pathway between mullets and piscivorous birds in the southeastern Pacific. The high infection rate observed in a commercially important fish species raises potential concerns for public health, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of anisakid nematodes in coastal fisheries.

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秘鲁东南太平洋外海灰鲻鱼和鸬鹚间缩毛虫的综合鉴定（线虫纲：八角虫科）

采用形态学和分子生物学的综合方法，研究了秘鲁沿海扁平灰鲻鱼Mugil cephalus和红腿鸬鹚Phalacrocorax gaimardi幼虫期和成虫期的寄生特征。从头尾棘球蚴的肾脏中共分离出24只第三期幼虫（L3），从胃肠道中分离出2只成年雄虫和1只幼虫，并吞食了盖马尔棘球蚴的猎物。形态学上，所有标本都具有缩甲属的主要诊断特征。线粒体cox2基因与C. multipapillatum （AF179910）序列高度相似（98.95 ~ 99.16%）；然而，该参考序列的原始宿主、地点和发育阶段尚不清楚，因此对其分类有效性提出了质疑。系统发育重建证实，幼虫和成虫标本均与该物种聚集在一起，具有很强的节点支持。尽管如此，在针状体大小和乳头形态上的显著差异表明，成年标本可能代表了C. multipapillatum复合体中一个未被描述的物种。鉴于现有成虫标本数量有限，采用保守的分类方法，建议进一步取样。这项研究首次证实了秘鲁头尾鱼中有缩尾绦虫幼虫，可能表明在东南太平洋的鲻鱼和鱼食性鸟类之间存在潜在的营养途径。在一种商业上重要的鱼类中观察到的高感染率引起了对公共卫生的潜在关注，突出表明需要继续监测沿海渔业中的茴香线虫。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).