Preliminary survey of Helminths in Thunnus Albacares (Yellowfin tuna) landed in Lucena fish port

• Main Author: Lampitoc, Susangird B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Yellowfin tuna > Philippines > Lucena; Tuna > Philippines > Lucena > Surveys; Fishes > Philippines > Lucena; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2189
• Institution: De La Salle University

A total of 22 Thunnus albacares samples collected between October 2007 and February 2008 from Lucena Fish Port were examined for the presence of parasites. Isolated parasites were observed for identification through light microscopy. Dehydrating, staining and destaining, clearing and mounting were done by the MICROLAB. Total length of the T. albacares ranged from 32.0 to 46.0 centimeters. The mean total length is 38.95 + 4.22 centimeters, indicating that the samples were juveniles. The weight of the samples ranged from 595.05 to 1,200 grams. The mean weight is 773.53 + 439.81 grams. Out of the 22 fish samples examined, 200 parasites were recovered, 186 parasites from the gills and 14 from the gastrointestinal tract. No parasites were recovered from the skin, fins, heart, liver and muscles. Results showed that 16 fish samples or 73% are infected with helminths. The helminths found in the gills were Digeneans belonging to the genus Didymocystis. The month of February 2008 had the highest mean parasites collected in the gills with 20 + 21 while the month of October 2007 had the lowest mean parasites with 5.4 + 3.6. In this study, having frozen samples and fewer samples may have influenced the recovery of parasites.