Parasitic Survey of Two Marine Fish Species, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) and Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) from the Suez Gulf, Egypt

This study was designed to investigate the parasites associated with Rastrelliger kanagurta and Sardinella gibbosa. A total of 220 fish samples from two marine species were randomly collected from fish markets in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, during the spring season of 2023 by fishermen. Of these, 120 specimens were Rastrelliger kanagurta and 100 specimens were Sardinella gibbosa. Parasitological examinations revealed that Rastrelliger kanagurta had a total prevalence of 75% (84% in males and 66.6% in females), with two trematode species—Prodistomum orientalis and Opechona bacillaris—as well as the nematode parasite Anisakis sp. (larvae). For Sardinella gibbosa, the total prevalence was 65% (45% in males and 20% in females), with the presence of Anisakis sp. (adult and larval stages). To accurately identify the detected parasites, all species were photographed, morphological observations were recorded, and an electron microscopic examination was conducted on adult Anisakis sp. Based on the current findings, further studies are recommended to expand the parasitological database, including more observations on the parasitological effects on the host, human health, the surrounding ecosystem, and the host-parasite relationship in the Suez Gulf region, Egypt.