Larvae of echinocephalus overstreeti deardorff and Ko, 1983 (Nematoda : Gnathostomatidae)‎ in the Red Sea fish, abalistes stellatus (balistidae)‎, Yemen coastal water

الملخص EN

One hundred thirty two starry triggerfish, Abalistes stellatus ( Bloch and Schneider,1801) (Tetraodontiforms : Balistidae), collected from the fish market of Hodeidah and Luhayah, Yemen coastal water, between 5 October 2009 and 20April, 2010, were necropsied to study their nematode larvae.

17 (12.9 %) were parasitized by nematode larvae of E.

overstreeti Deardorff & Ko, 1983.

The prevalence of parasite infections in fish species in relation to sex of their host was studied.

These larvae of this species are reported and described for the first time from waters of Yemen and Abalistes stellatus is a new host species for E.

overstreeti.