Parasite community structure of Sardina pilchardus in the Black Sea: diversity, host factors and seasonal dynamics
- 1Department of Aquaculture, Malatya Turgut Özal Üniversitesi, Malatya, Türkiye
- 2Aquaculture and Disease, Sinop Universitesi, Sinop, Türkiye
Abstract
The parasite fauna of Sardina pilchardus from the Black Sea coast of Türkiye was investigated. The parasitological survey was conducted on a total of 136 fish collected monthly from October 2024 to May 2025. A total of 7 parasite species were recovered: 5 digeneans (comprising 3 adult stages and 2 metacercarial stages), 1 larval nematode and 1 coccidian. The identified taxa included the adult digeneans Pronoprymna ventricosa, Lecithaster confusus and Aphanurus stossichii, metacercariae Stephanostomum sp. and Renicola sp., nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum, and coccidian Eimeria sardinae. Prevalence (%) and infection intensity indices were determined for each parasite species. Overall infection prevalence (82.35%), mean intensity (8.28 ± 0.74) and mean abundance (6.82 ± 0.67) were calculated. Infection parameters for each parasite species were determined and statistically compared across fish length groups, seasons, sex and host body condition factor. The results revealed that parasite abundance and intensity varied significantly among fish length groups and seasons, whereas no significant correlations were found with host body condition or fish sex. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to examine co-occurrence patterns among parasite species. A moderate positive correlation was detected between H. aduncum and Stephanostomum sp. (r = 0.494, P < 0.01). In contrast, associations among other parasite species were weak or negligible, indicating largely independent occurrence. Except for H. aduncum, all identified species represent new host records for this species in the Black Sea and Türkiye. Notably, Renicola sp. constitutes the first record of this genus for the parasite fauna of Türkiye.
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BibTeX
@article{guven2026parasite,
title = {{Parasite community structure of Sardina pilchardus in the Black Sea: diversity, host factors and seasonal dynamics}},
author = {Arzu Güven and Türkay Öztürk},
journal = {Parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1017/s0031182026102455},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182026102455},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parasite community structure of Sardina pilchardus in the Black Sea: diversity, host factors and seasonal dynamics
AU - Arzu Güven
AU - Türkay Öztürk
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/09
JO - Parasitology
DO - 10.1017/s0031182026102455
UR - https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182026102455
AB - The parasite fauna of Sardina pilchardus from the Black Sea coast of Türkiye was investigated. The parasitological survey was conducted on a total of 136 fish collected monthly from October 2024 to May 2025. A total of 7 parasite species were recovered: 5 digeneans (comprising 3 adult stages and 2 metacercarial stages), 1 larval nematode and 1 coccidian. The identified taxa included the adult digeneans Pronoprymna ventricosa, Lecithaster confusus and Aphanurus stossichii, metacercariae Stephanostomum sp. and Renicola sp., nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum, and coccidian Eimeria sardinae. Prevalence (%) and infection intensity indices were determined for each parasite species. Overall infection prevalence (82.35%), mean intensity (8.28 ± 0.74) and mean abundance (6.82 ± 0.67) were calculated. Infection parameters for each parasite species were determined and statistically compared across fish length groups, seasons, sex and host body condition factor. The results revealed that parasite abundance and intensity varied significantly among fish length groups and seasons, whereas no significant correlations were found with host body condition or fish sex. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to examine co-occurrence patterns among parasite species. A moderate positive correlation was detected between H. aduncum and Stephanostomum sp. (r = 0.494, P < 0.01). In contrast, associations among other parasite species were weak or negligible, indicating largely independent occurrence. Except for H. aduncum, all identified species represent new host records for this species in the Black Sea and Türkiye. Notably, Renicola sp. constitutes the first record of this genus for the parasite fauna of Türkiye.
SN - 0031-1820
SN - 1469-8161
ER -