in Two Populations of Mugil Cephalus (Mugilidae)

Anisakis sp. and Contracaecum sp. are nematodes belonging to the family of Anisakidae. They are worldwide distributed and use a great number of fish species as intermediate, paratenic or final host. Despite their effects on fish and human beings, they play ecological role as biological tags to identify fish population or bioindicators of marine pollution. From January to December 2009, the helminthological examinations of 129 and 167 specimens of Mugil cephalus originating from Saloum and Senegal estuaries respectively revealed the presence of Anisakis sp. and Contracaecum sp. larvae. Generally, whatever the season or locality, the kidney lodges more larvae of Anisakis sp. than the liver or the general cavity. All Contracaecum sp. larvae were found in the mesentery of Mugil cephalus whatever the locality and season. In each locality, the prevalence of Anisakis sp. larvae was higher in rainy seaso