Diversidad y distribución de ectoparásitos en anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) en el litoral peruano

Jefferson Yunis Aguinaga; Carla Fernandez Espinel; Violeta Flores Dominick

doi:10.53554/boletin.v41i1.452

Authors

Jefferson Yunis Aguinaga Instituto del Mar del Perú, Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1959-4350
Carla Fernandez Espinel Instituto del Mar del Perú, Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8909-4485
Violeta Flores Dominick Instituto del Mar del Perú, Laboratorio de Patobiología Acuática, Callao, Perú. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3141-1393

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53554/boletin.v41i1.452

Keywords:

Monogeneans, parasitic crustaceans, Peruvian Humboldt Current, ecological indicators

Abstract

Research on the diversity and spatial distribution of ectoparasites in Engraulis ringens within the Peruvian Current (Humboldt Current System) provides valuable insight into the species’ ecological dynamics and supports its sustainable management. Between September and October 2025, sampling was conducted along the coastal corridor from Paita to Ilo. A total of 179 individuals were examined, including 93 specimens from the Paita–Lima sector and 86 from the Lima–Ilo sector, with total lengths ranging from 6 to 15 cm. Ectoparasites were collected from the gills and skin. They included monogeneans (34 specimens) and parasitic crustaceans of the genera Caligus (3 specimens) and Nerocila (16 specimens). The overall prevalence of ectoparasitism in E. ringens was 29.6%, with monogeneans accounting for 19% and crustaceans for 10.61%. Mean intensity values were 1.47 for monogeneans and 1.0 for crustaceans. Monogeneans exhibited higher prevalence in the north–central coastal sector (Paita to Pisco), whereas parasitic crustaceans were more prevalent in the central–southern sector (Punta Bermeja to Punta Infiernillos). Monogenean abundance peaked in hosts measuring 12–13 cm in total length, with no evidence of sexrelated differences in infestation patterns. None of the ectoparasite taxa identified showed zoonotic relevance. The findings suggest the presence of undescribed monogenean species and underscore the utility of ectoparasites as ecological indicators for assessing connectivity, population structure, and migratory processes in E. ringens. This study establishes a baseline for future integrative parasitological investigations within the Peruvian upwelling ecosystem.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Alternative Metrics

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Aguinaga, J. Y., Marcusso, P. F., Claudiano, G. D. S., Lima, B. T. M., Sebastião, F. D. A., Fernandes, J. B. K. & Moraes, J. R. E. D. (2015). Parasitic infections in ornamental cichlid fish in the Peruvian Amazon. Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet., 24(1), 82-86. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612014076

Aliaga-Nestares, V., de la Cruz, G. & Takahashi, K. (2023). Comparison between the operational and statistical daily maximum and minimum temperature forecasts on the Central Coast of Peru. Weather and Forecasting, 38, 555-570. https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-21-0094.1

Aramayo, V. (2026). Sustaining Peru’s Small-Scale Fisheries: Exploited Biodiversity and Blue Economy Perspectives. En W. L. Filho, A. L. Salvia, J. P. Eustachio, M. A. Pimenta Dinis (Eds.), Handbook of Sustainable Blue Economy (pp. 1-39). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32671-4_110-1

Bush, A. O., Lafferty, K. D., Lotz, J. M. & Shostak, A. W. (1997). Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. The Journal of Parasitology, 83(4), 575-583. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284227

Carvalho-Azevedo, A., Huancachoque, E. G., Cuellar, I., Sáez, G. M., Cruces, C. L., Chero, J. D. & Luque, J. L. (2021). New record of monogeneans (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) infecting some marine fishes from the Peruvian coastal zone. Revista peruana de biología, 28(3), e21125. https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v28i3.21125

Chavez, R. A., Valdivia, I. M. & Oliva, M. E. (2007). Local variability in metazoan parasites of the pelagic fish species, Engraulis ringens: implications for fish stock assessment using parasites as biological tags. Journal of Helminthology, 81, 113-116. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X07726573

Cooley, K. M., Fewings, M. R., Lerczak, J. A., O’Neill, L. W. & Brown, K. S. (2022). Role of sea surface physical processes in mixed‐layer temperature changes during summer marine heat waves in the Chile‐Peru current system. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 127, e2021JC018338. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC018338

García-Alcalde, M., Minaya, D., Alvariño, L. & Iannacone, J. (2022). Parasitic fauna of the Peruvian moonfish Selene peruviana (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the north coast of Peru. Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía, 57(2), 80-88. https://doi.org/10.22370/rbmo.2022.57.2.3526

Henriquez, V. P., Gonzalez, M. T., Licandeo, R. & Carvajal, J. (2011). Metazoan parasite communities of rock cod Eleginops maclovinus along southern Chilean coast and their use as biological tags at a local spatial scale. Journal of Fish Biology, 79, 1851-1865. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03126.x

Jerônimo, G., da Cruz, M., Bertaglia, E., Furtado, W. & Martins, M. (2022). Fish parasites can reflect environmental quality in fish farms. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14, 1558-1571. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12662

Luque, J. L. & Poulin, R. (2007). Metazoan parasite species richness in Neotropical fishes: hotspots and the geography of biodiversity. Parasitology, 134, 865-878. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182007002272

Luque, J. L., Cruces, C., Chero, J., Paschoal, F., Alves, P. V., Da Silva, A. C., Sánchez, L. & Iannacone, J. (2016). Checklist of metazoan parasites of fishes from Peru. Neotropical Helminthology, 10(2), 301-375. https://www.neotropicalhelminthology.com/articulo-15-2016-2

MacKenzie, K. & Hemmingsen, W. (2015). Parasites as biological tags in marine fisheries research: European Atlantic waters. Parasitology, 142, 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182014000341

Mondragón-Martínez, A., Marroquin-Vilchez, D., Martínez-Rojas, R., Cruz-Neyra, L., Pulido-Murillo, E. A., Sulca-López, M. A. & Yunis-Aguinaga, J. (2024). Molecular identification and prevalence of plerocercoid larvae (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in some commercial fish species from Peru. Parasitology Research, 123, 243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08267-1

Nizama Chapoñan, A. & Cornejo Cruz, C. (2024). Primer registro de Nerocila acuminata (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) como ectoparásito de la anchoveta Engraulis ringens en el Perú. Revista de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras. https://doi.org/10.15359/revmar.16-2.4

Oliva, M. E. & Ballón, I. (2002). Metazoan parasites of the Chilean hake Merluccius gayi gayi as a tool for stock discrimination. Fisheries Research, 56, 313-320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(01)00329-0

Oliva, M. E. & Luque, J. L. (1998). Metazoan parasite infracommunities in five sciaenids from the central Peruvian coast. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 93(2), 175-180. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761998000200007

Paredes, L. D., Landaeta, M. F., Molinet, C. & González, M. T. (2021). Modelling seasonal patterns of larval fish parasitism in two northern nearshore areas in the Humboldt Current System. Scientific Reports, 11, 579. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79847-1

Santillán, L. A., Cruces, C. L., Sáez, G. M., Martínez-Rojas, R., Mondragón-Martínez, A., Murrieta Morey, G. A., Quiñones, M., Luque, J. L. & Chero, J. D. (2024). An Annotated Checklist of Monogeneans (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) from Aquatic Vertebrates in Peru: A Review of Diversity, Hosts and Geographical Distribution. Animals, 14, 1542. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111542

Sayyaf Dezfuli, B., Lorenzoni, M., Carosi, A., Giari, L. & Bosi, G. (2023). Teleost innate immunity, an intricate game between immune cells and parasites of fish organs: who wins, who loses. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1250835. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1250835

Tenorio, J. C., Tabios, I. K., Inpankaew, T., Ybañez, A. P., Tiwananthagorn, S., Tangkawattana, S. & Suttiprapa, S. (2024). Ancylostoma ceylanicum and other zoonotic canine hookworms: neglected public and animal health risks in the Asia–Pacific region. Animal Diseases, 4(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44149-024-00117-y

Thaenkham, U., Chaisiri, K. & Hui En Chan, A. (2022). Overview of parasitic helminth diversity: how molecular Systematics is involved. En U. Thaenkham, K. Chaisiri & A. Hui En Chan (Eds.), Molecular Systematics of Parasitic Helminths (pp. 61-86). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1786-8_3

Williams Jr., E. H. & Bunkley-Williams, L. (2019). Life cycle and life history strategies of parasitic Crustacea. En N. J. Smit, N. L. Bruce & K. A. Hadfield (Eds.), Parasitic crustacea: state of knowledge and future trends (Cap 5, pp. 179-266). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17385-2_5