Occurrence of

Specimens of Trachurus trachurus L., obtained monthly in a fish market of Oporto from October 1998 to August 19 99, were examined for the presence of Kudoa in the muscle. Kudoa sp. spores were found in 84.7 % of the specimens (n = 209), The prevalence was not significantly different between seasons and was not related to the host's length. The infection does not seem to have negative effects on the fish quality once no macroscopic pseudocysts or myoliquefaction were detected