Survey of anisakids in commercial teleosts from the western Mediterranean Sea: Infection rates and possible effects of environmental and ecological factors

• The greatest anisakid prevalence was observed in surmullet and common pandora.
• Depth of the fishing grounds appears to be an important risk factor for anisakid parasitization.
• No correlation was observed between anisakid prevalence and geographical sector.
• A very low prevalence and intensity in the musculature of sampled fish was observed.

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of Anisakidae larvae in fishes of commercial value and largely used for human consumption, from the Spanish Mediterranean coasts. The influence of environmental (geographical location, depth, temperature and salinity of the fishing grounds) and biological (weight, length and corporal condition) variables were evaluated. A total of 290 fishes belonging to 10 different species sampled from 36 geographical sectors were analyzed using enzymatic digestion method. The total prevalence of Anisakidae was 13.1%, with the prevalence of Anisakis sp., Hysterothylacium sp. and Contracaecum sp. being 6.21%, 6.21%, and 2.41%, respectively. The highest anisakid larvae prevalence, was observed in surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) and common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus). Total Anisakidae prevalence was positively correlated with length, weight and condition factor of the host and with the depth of the capture site. Anisakis sp. total prevalence was positively correlated to fishing ground depth. No significant correlation was observed between anisakid prevalence and geographical sector of capture.