Estudo qualitativo e quantitativo da helmintofauna dos peixes Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuvier) e Scomberomorus maculatus (Mit-Chill) no litoral do Ceará, Brasil

Abstract

ln this paper the author presents qualitative and quantitative analysis of the helminths parasites of Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuv.) e Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitch.) in Ceará Coast. Based on earlier on the host species in Ceará, the author adds biological data also refering to these species. It is shown through tables and graphics the helminths with the highest infestation frequency as well as the most infected parts. Of the hosts samples, Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuv.) presented the highest parasite índex. The infestation proved not to be due to the month of the yeat the samples were captured, age or sex of the hosts. The group which showed the highes·t infestation level in both host species, was composed by the nematodes, represented by 90,01% of helminths recovered from king mackerel and 86,34% from spanish mackerel. The helminths were recovered from all the parts of the body, mainly from the stomach, where they appered in great number and higher frequency. Prosohynchus atlanticus manther, 1940 and Rhadinorhynchus prsitis (Rudolphi, 1802), 1911 are fereded for the first time in Brazil. The conclusion suggests that the designation "biological tags" should be applied to the recovered helminths as a whole and not to a single species.