title: [Parasite fauna of the European Pilchard (Sardina Pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) from the Atlantic coastal water of North Africa: application of latitudinal patterns analysis for the host intraspecific structure].
abstract: Two stocks of the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus Walb.) from the Atlantic co- ast of Northwestern Africa were discriminated with the use of parasites as biological tags. A total of 646 fishes (TL = 15-25 cm; modal age 1-3) were examined for parasites in the area between 30-18 degree N during 2005-2010 winter and summer seasons. Fourteen species of parasites were found. Mean prevalence constituted 62%. The most abundant species (with prevalence 5% in at least one of the samples) included Goussia clupearum, Ceratonmyxa truncata, Cocomnxa morovi, Aphanurus stossichi, Lecitaster con!filsus, Bacciger bacciger, Hysterothylacium sp., and Anilocra capensis. All fishes were grouped into one-degree latitudinal groups. Analysis of parasite component communities in latitudinal groups allowed combining parasite component communities into northern (30-28 degree N) and southern (24-18 degree N) groups only in winter spawning season. These two groups cor- respond with two sardine stocks--"A + B" and "C" that were separated by FAO working group on the base of ecological and fishery data. Parasite component community of the stock "A + B" was characterized as balanced with dominant species B. bacciger. The parasite component community of the stock "C" was characterized as an unbalanced stock with Hysterothylacium sp. as the dominant species. Significant values of prevalence for G. clupearum A. stossichi, B. hacciger, Hysterothylacium sp., and A. capensis were revealed in fishes from stocks "A + B" and "C". These parasites may be used as biological tags that characterize specific of host-parasite complexes of northern and southern subareas examined.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Shukhgalter
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D012621:Seasons