Study of helminth parasites in the red mullet, Mullus barbatus, from the Mediterranean Sea and acquired in greater València, Spain

The red mullet, Mullus barbatus, is a fish of great commercial value with a wide distribution in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. However, the helminthfauna of the red mullet in Spain has been poorly studied and the potential parasitological risk for humans due to this fish remains almost unknown. With the aim to provide more information on the helminth community of this fish, 100 specimens caught in the Mediterranean Sea between January and May 2012 and acquired at various supermarkets near the city of València (Spain) were analysed. Helminths were identified based on morphological criteria. 50.0% of the specimens were parasitized by at least one of the six helminth species id…