This study documents temporal changes in abundance and prevalence of larval anisakid nematodes in two commercially important fish; the vermilion rockfish Sebastes miniatus, and the ocean whitefish Caulolatilus princeps, collected in coastal waters of San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico. Anisakis sp., Hysterothylacium aduncum, and Pseudoterranova decipiens (Anisakidae) were found in S. miniatus, while H. aduncum and P. decipiens were present in C. princeps. The vermilion rockfish constitutes a new host for H. aduncum; C. princeps is a new host for Anisakis sp. and H. aduncum. San Quintin constitutes a new geographic locality for Anisakis sp. and H. aduncum. Hysterothylacium aduncum was the most abundant parasite (S. miniatus (X̄ = 37; C. princeps (X̄ = 15.5), and Anisakis sp. was the most prevalent species (S. miniatus = 91.8%; C. princeps = 95%). The nematode abundance increased in summer in both S. miniatus and C. princeps. Both species were highly infected with nematode larval stages of Anisakis sp., P. decipiens, and H. aduncum (S. miniatus: 10,323 specimens, C. princeps: 2,575 specimens). These fish constitute one of the most important ground fish resources for recreational and commercial fisheries in Baja California (Mexico) and California (USA) and make up a substantial part of the regional seafood cuisine. Except for Anisakis sp. 1, the other anisakid species appear to show less organ specificity because they were found in almost all internal organs; their importance as a potential of human infection cannot be excluded due to possible migration to muscle, and fish should be gutted soon after capture to avoid worm migration into flesh.
Anisakinae Nematodes in Two Commercial Marine Fish from the East Pacific of Baja California, Mexico
