MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF ENDOPARASITES IN BRACHYPLATYSTOMA VAILLANTII INTENDED FOR CONSUMPTION, IQUITOS-PERU

Abstract

The juvenile stage of Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes), commonly called Manitoa in Peru, has commercial value for direct human consumption and as an ornamental aquarium fish. Unidentified and little-studied pathogens limit the productivity of Amazonian fish species and, therefore, this study aimed to identify and describe morphologically the genera of endoparasites present in the visceral cavity, muscle, spleen, liver, and intestine of B. vaillantii. Sixty samples were collected from the three main local markets in Iquitos-Peru (20 fish per market), and examined by direct observation. Parasites were collected, fixed and cleared for identification using classical taxonomy methods. Anisakis sp., Contracaecum sp., Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) juana, Sebekia sp. and Genarchella sp. were collected. Anisakis sp. larvae had the highest prevalence (P %= 93.33) and mean intensity (Im=55.97) and Procamallamus (Spirocamallanus) juana the lowest prevalence (P %=3.33) and mean intensity (Im=0.1). The parasites identified in this work represent a health risk to the host. It is recommended that more biological and pathological studies of these parasites be carried out since they can affect one of the main economic activities of the Peruvian Amazon.