valencia's university

Marine Zoology Unit- ICBiBE

Parasitology

The second research theme of the Marine Zoology Unit concerns parasite studies of marine mammals, sea turtles and fish. Studies include taxonomy, both conventional and molecular, ecology and evolution of the parasite species. Particularly, some pioneering studies have focused on the ecological and evolutionary determinants of parasite community structure in cetaceans and sea turtles.

PARASITOLOGY

Several studies carried out by our group have used parasite data to obtain information on the migration and social structure of marine mammal populations. Applied research within fisheries and aquaculture concerns the distribution of anisakid nematodes in commercial fish, parasites of cultured Mediterranean amberjacks Seriola dumerili and other new species for Mediterranean aquaculture, and the use of parasite data to predict harvest location of fish. The Marine Zoology Unit is currently part of a consortium of six labs funded by the EC's 5th Framework Programme to develop and optimise methods aimed at tracing the location of harvest and spawning of cod (CODTRACE). Our unit contributes to the project by developing techniques based on the analysis of parasite assemblages.

Representative Projects

  • Aznar FJ, Agustí C, Littlewood DTJ, Raga JA, Olson, P.D. (2007). Insight into the role of cetaceans in the life cycle of the tetraphyllideans (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda).  International Journal of Parasitology, 37: 243–255.
  • Pérez-Del Olmo A, Raga JA,  Kostadinova A, Fernández, M.  (2007). Parasite communities in Boops boops (L.) (Sparidae) after the
    Prestige oil-spill: detectable alterations. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54: 266-276.
  • Aznar FJ, Fognani P, Balbuena JA, Pietrobelli M, Raga JA (2006). Distribution patterns of Pholeter gastrophilus (Digenea) in the stomach of four odontocete species: the role of the host digestive physiology. Parasitology, 133: 369-380.
  • Aznar FJ, Perdiguero D, Pérez-Del-Olmo A, Repullés A, Agustí C, Raga, J.A. (2005). Changes in epizoite infections during cetacean die-offs: the mass mortality of Mediterranean striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, revisited. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 67: 239-247.
  • Montero FE, Crespo S, Padrós F, De La Gándara F, García A, Raga JA (2004). Effects of the gill parasite Zeuxapta seriolae (Monogenea: Heteraxinidae) on the amberjack Seriola dumerili Risso (Teleostei: Carangidae). Aquaculture, 232: 153-163.
  • Raga JA, Aznar FJ, Balbuena JA, Fernández M (2002). Parasites. In: W.F. Perrin, B. Würsing & H.G.M. Thewissen (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Academic Press, San Diego, 867-876.
  • Aznar FJ, Bush AO, Raga JA (2002). Variability of trunk spines in the Acanthocephalan Corynosoma cetaceum: the role of physical constraints. Invertebrate Biology, 121: 104-114.
  • Herreras MV, Aznar FJ, Balbuena JA,  Raga JA (2000). Anisakid larvae in the musculature of the Argentinean Hake, Merluccius hubbsi. Journal of Food Protection, 63: 1141-1143.
  • Aznar FJ, Bush AO, Fernández M, Raga JA (1999). Constructional morphology and mode of attachment of the trunk of Corynosoma cetaceum (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae). Journal of Morphology, 241 (3): 237-249.
  • Fernández M, Aznar FJ, Latorre A, Raga, JA (1998). Molecular phylogeny of the families Campulidae and Nasitrematidae (Trematoda). International Journal for Parasitology, 28: 767-775.
  • Balbuena JA, Aznar FJ, Fernández M, Raga, JA (1995). The use of parasites as indicators of social structure and stock identity of marine mammals. In:AS Blix, L Walløe, Ø Ulltang (eds.), Whales, seals, fish and man. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp. 133-139.
  • Raga JA (1994). Parasitismus bei Cetacea. In: D Robineau, R Duguy, M Klima (eds.), Handbuch  der  Säugetiere Europas. Bd. 6/1. Aula‑Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 132-179.
  • Balbuena JA, Raga JA (1994). Intestinal helminths as indicators of segregation and social structure of pods of pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 72: 443-448.
  • Balbuena JA, Raga JA (1993). Intestinal helminth communities of the long‑finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands. Parasitology, 106: 327‑333.



Representative Publications

  • Montero FE, Crespo S, Padrós F, De La Gándara F, García A, Raga JA (2004). Effects of the gill parasite Zeuxapta seriolae (Monogenea: Heteraxinidae) on the amberjack Seriola dumerili Risso (Teleostei: Carangidae). Aquaculture, 232: 153-163.
  • Raga JA, Aznar FJ, Balbuena JA, Fernández M (2002). Parasites. In: W.F. Perrin, B. Würsing & H.G.M. Thewissen (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Academic Press, San Diego, 867-876.
  • Aznar FJ, Bush AO, Raga JA (2002). Variability of trunk spines in the Acanthocephalan Corynosoma cetaceum: the role of physical constraints. Invertebrate Biology, 121: 104-114.
  • Herreras MV, Aznar FJ, Balbuena JA, Raga JA (2000). Anisakid larvae in the musculature of the Argentinean Hake, Merluccius hubbsi. Journal of Food Protection, 63: 1141-1143.
  • Aznar FJ, Bush AO, Fernández M, Raga JA (1999). Constructional morphology and mode of attachment of the trunk of Corynosoma cetaceum (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae). Journal of Morphology, 241 (3): 237-249.
  • Fernández M, Aznar FJ, Latorre A, Raga, JA (1998). Molecular phylogeny of the families Campulidae and Nasitrematidae (Trematoda). International Journal for Parasitology, 28: 767-775.
  • Balbuena JA, Aznar FJ, Fernández M, Raga, JA (1995). The use of parasites as indicators of social structure and stock identity of marine mammals. In: AS Blix, L Walløe, Ø Ulltang (eds.), Whales, seals, fish and man. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp. 133-139.
  • Raga JA (1994). Parasitismus bei Cetacea. In: D Robineau, R Duguy, M Klima (eds.), Handbuch der Säugetiere Europas. Bd. 6/1. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 132-179.
  • Balbuena JA, Raga JA (1994). Intestinal helminths as indicators of segregation and social structure of pods of pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 72: 443-448.
  • Balbuena JA, Raga JA (1993). Intestinal helminth communities of the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands. Parasitology, 106: 327-333.

[<] Return

More info: zoomar@uv.es