Occurrence of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa Ransom, 1920 (Digenea: Heterophyidae) in Mugil incilis from Cartagena Bay, Colombia

Fishborne metacercariae have not been reported in Colombia. During all 8-month period. 250 mullet-hsa (Mugil incilis) were examined for trematode metacercariae in the liver Average prevalence and intensity were 93.4 +/- 2 5% and 8476 +/- 1238 cysts per grain ofliver, respectively Monthly prevalence of the trematode. identified as Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa Ransom (1920). was always high (>79%) and there was no difference between sampling periods (P > 0 05) Trematode intensity in l had a significant negative effect on host size (R=-0.325, P<0001), condition factor (R=-0.352, P<0.001), and liver-somatic index (R=-0372, P<0001), in contrast, a positive relationship was found with gill-somatic index (R=0446, P<0001) Histopathological analysis indicated the presence of abundant cysts together with inflammatory reactions involving macrophage aggregates and necrosis. These results Suggest that trematodes infecting the liver of M incilis affect the growth and well-being of these fish, and their consumption could represent a major risk for human infection (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved