A survey of digenetic trematode larval metacercariae in fish species Rastrelliger kanagurta (alumahan) and Lutianus malabaricus (maya-maya) collected from Imus, Cavite

• Main Author: Santos, Edgar B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Digenea > Larvae; Cercariae; Trematoda; Fishes > Parasites
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1463
• Institution: De La Salle University

A survey was conducted to determine the presence of larval digenetic trematode metacercariae in fish species Lutianus malabaricus and Rastrelliger kanagurta collected from the Imus Central Fish Wetmarket located in Imus, Cavite. Both the compression and digestion methods were used. In the fish species R. kanagurta examined with the compression and digestion methods, not a single fish sample was found with metacercariae. In the fish species L. malabaricus examined using the compression method, 21 fish samples had metacercariae. However, using the digestion method for reconfirmation, 24 fish samples were positive for metacercariae. This accounts for an 80% prevalence rate with a mean of 479.2 + 2.02. The metacercarial density ranged between 127.2-1,510.3 per fish sample. The greatest percentage of metacercariae occured in the muscles and the next highest number in the gills and fins. We also noted that heavier or possibly older fish had relatively higher metacercarial densities than lighter ones. The encysted metacercariae are circular (360 microns) to ovoidal (480 microns) in shape with distinct cyst walls and indistinguishable internal structures.