Flesh parasites of fish from central Philippine waters

Abstract

In April 1990, 488 marine fish, belonging to 30 species from centralPhilippine waters, were investigated macroscopically for the occurrenceof parasites in their flesh and for anisakid nematodes in their bodycavity. Twenty-four fish were found to be infected by 1 of 4 differenttypes of parasites. Unidentified Microspora were found in 4 host speciesfrom different families. Plerocercoids of the trypanorhynchid cestodeOtobothrium penetrans occurred in the flesh of hemirhamphids andbelonids only. Adult nematodes of the genus Philometra were found in thegarfish Tylosurus crocodilus. The only parasite found which might betransferable to warm-blooded animals was the L-III stage of Anisakis sp.from the body cavity and the muscle of Muraenesox cinereus. The risk ofhuman infections by parasites through consumption of raw marine fish inthe central Philippines therefore is considered to be low.