Acanthocephalan(Echinorhynchus sp.)infection of yellowfin tuna(Thunnus albacares)from Nagapattinam,south east coast of India

Objective:To recored the infection of Acanthocephalan parasite,(Echinorhynchus sp.)in adult yellowfin tuna(Thunnus albacares).This is the first report of acanthocephalan Echinirhynchus sp attached to yellowfin tuna and moreover prevalence,mean intensity and mean abundance was observed.Methods:Totally 1001 yellowfin tuna fishes were collected throughout the year of 2012 from the coast of Nagapattinam(10°45'36.25"N and 79°50'59.54"E),Tamil Nadu,India.The collected fishes were washed with fresh water to remove debris and immediately stored in ice,and brought to the laboratory.Intestines were placed in normal saline(0.85%NaCl).The worms were fixed in alcohol/formalin/(AFA)fixative and in 70%ethanol until processed for identification.Results:Totally 1001 yellowfin tuna was examined out of 387(52.67%)hosts were infected with acanthocephalan(Echinorhynchus sp.).The proboscis Echinorhynchus sp.was long,cylindrical with cylindrical with a uniform width measured(0.41±0.02)mm in length and(0.12±0.03)mm in width.The endo parasite prevalence,intensity and abundance was recorded as 52.67%,12.46%,and 5.43%respectively.Conclusions:This current phenomena was carried out to report of acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus sp.attached the new host of yellowfin tuna from Nagapattinam coast.Moreover,parasitological investigations are required to determine endo parasites of host due to its importance and numerous occurring among most important marine food fishes in world wild.