Development and habitat selection of a new sanguinicolid parasite of cultured greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, in the Mediterranean

Although flukes were recovered from four sites in the host the thoracic and pelvic girdle muscles, where the blood flukes were found initially, were the main habitat for P. ibericus. The worm intensity per habitat gradually decreased in those sites in the blood system located furthest from the girdles. This habitat selection pattern was not density-dependent. The developmental pattern of sanguinicolidosis due to P. ibericus is compared with previous studies on sea-cage cultured S. dumerili. The lack of severe pathology observed in the present study is attributed to the low pathogenicity of the parasite and the aquaculture conditions. The results of this study could be useful for early diagnosis of P. ibericus before transfer of the fish to aquaculture facilities and to design control measures for cultivating S. dumerili.