Parasites of Marine Fishes: Advances and Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to introduce a new Special Issue of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering on marine fish parasites.

Interest in this field is rapidly growing, driven by both economic and ecological concerns. As already known, parasites can have a significant impact on fishing, aquaculture, and the marketability of commercially important fish species; additionally, some parasites have zoonotic potential.

On the other hand, marine parasites are being increasingly recognized for their significant contribution to elucidating various aspects of fish ecology, such as trophic relationships and migratory patterns. However, there is a paucity of fundamental information on this topic, particularly surrounding the taxonomy, life cycle, and distribution of marine fish parasites.

This Special Issue aims to collect a broad range of articles related to marine fish parasites, and we particularly encourage research that delves into their diversity, ecology, epidemiology, and pathogenic potential.

Dr. Perla Tedesco
Dr. Marialetizia Palomba
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• fish parasites
• wild and farmed fish
• protozoan and metazoan parasites
• marine parasitology

Title: Gastrointestinal parasites of by-catched Elasmobranchs from the Mediterranean sea
Authors: Dr. Perla Tedesco
Affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Abstract: Elasmobranchs are exposed to a variety of gastrointestinal parasites acquired through the ingestion of infected prey. An increasing amount of evidence suggest the usefulness of parasitological information to elucidate aspects of the biology and ecology of sharks and rays, to inform the correct management and conservation of their stocks and the appropriate husbandry of captive specimens. This study aims to identify at the morphological and molecular level the helminth parasites found in the stomach and intestines of various elasmobranchs found from the by-catches of fisheries in the Mediterranean with the aim of updating and providing new information on the parasitic fauna of these species. Specimens of Smooth-hound Mustelus mustelus, Blackspotted smooth-hound Mustelus punctulatus, blue shark Prionace glauca, Spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias, Lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, pelagic stingrays Pteroplatytrygon violacea and Mediterranean starry rays Raja asterias were examined. The parasitological examination allowed to identify the nematode Acanthocheilus rotundatus in the two species of smooth-hound, the tapeworm species Scyphophyllidium exiguum, Anthobothrium caseyi and Nybelinia indica in P. glauca, the nematodes Hysterothylacium aduncum and Proleptus obtusus in S. acanthias and S. canicula respectively, and finally the nematode Pseudanisakis sp. and the tapeworm Nybelinia sp. in Raja asterias Some observations represent new reports at a geographical level, in particular Anthobothrium caseyi in P. glauca in the Adriatic Sea, or as a first host record, such as S. exiguum and N. indica in P. glauca or Pseudanisakis sp. in R. asterias. The results of this survey represent a contribution to broaden the knowledge of the parasitic fauna of these elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea. From more in-depth future studies it will be possible to reach more solid evidence and general conclusions on aspects relating to the biology, ecology and health of the investigated species, offering useful information for their conservation and management.

Title: Isopod parasites of fish and cephalopods from Central Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Perla Tedesco
Affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Abstract: Information regarding the distribution of parasitic isopods in wild marine fish is scarce and fragmentary, therefore the present work is aimed at characterizing their distribution in different fish and cephalopod species from previously uninvestigated areas of Mediterranean Sea (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). Based on morphological analyses of parasitic stages we compiled a list of host-parasite associations, including eight species of isopods from five genera (Aega, Anilocra, Ceratothoa, Emetha and Nerocila) in 14 species of fish hosts (Bothus podas, Diplodus annularis, D. vul-garis, Epinephelus costae, Mullus surmuletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Serranus scriba, Scorpaena notata, S. porcus, S. scrofa, Spicara maena, Symphodus tinca, Trigloporus lastoviza, Xyrichthys novacula) and one species of cephalopod host (Octopus vulgaris). Our results provide information on the distribution of cymothoid species in demersal fish from Mediterranean Sea and include records of new host-parasite associations. Moreover, we report a rare occurrence of isopod infection in cephalopods: infection of the common octopus O. vulgaris with an isopod parasite is here reported for the first time. Collected data also suggest a low host specificity of cymothoid species in demersal fish fauna.