Aspectos quantitativos das infrapopulações de metazoários parasitos de Micropogonias furnieri (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) do litoral do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Between September of 1997 and August of 1998, 40 specimens of Micropogonias furnieri were captured of the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (aprox. 21-23° S, 41-45° W), and examined to study quantitative aspects of their infrapopulations of metazoan parasites. All fishes were parasitized with at least one species of metazoan. A total of 760 parasites were collected, with average of 19/fish. Seventeen species of metazoan parasites were found. The nematode Dichelyne elongatus was the most prevalent and abundant parasite of M. furnieri. All parasite species of M. furnieri showed a typical pattern of distribution. Clavellotis dilatata had a positive correlation between the total length and parasite prevalence, and Pachycreadium gastrocotylum showed negative correlation. Pterinotrema-toides mexicanum, Macrovalvitrema sinaloense, Dichelyne elongatus and C. dilatata showed positive correlation between the total length and the parasite abundance while P. gastrocotylum showed negative correlation. The sex of the host not influenced the prevalence and abundance of the metazoan parasites