Research of parasites with zoonotic potential for humans in skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)

Abstract

The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) is commonly found in the tropical waters of the oceans. It is a fishing resource of high economic value and available for national and international markets. Therefore, it is important to know the fish parasites for a correct sanitary inspection, as the pathogenesis in humans can occur through spoliative, toxic or mechanical action. This study aimed to identify the zoonotic parasitic fauna that infects the beautiful-striped using morphological methods. A total of 06 samples were analyzed. The fish were necropsied for parasitological evaluation of the musculature and internal organs. The samples were visually inspected and the structures with morphology combining with parasitic shapes were analyzed both in stereoscopic and microscope. The parasites found were fixed in 70% alcohol for later identification. All samples showed the presence of zoonotic parasites for humans. Two genera of zoonotic parasites have been found for humans that have beautiful tuna as their hosts, namely Anisakis sp. (Nematoda) and Trypanorhyncha (Eucestoda). A 100% of the infections occurred in the muscles and 66.6% in the liver. The results reinforced the importance of inspection by responsible organisms on the importance of evisceration as quickly as possible to avoid migration of larvae to the muscle.