Aggregata (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) infection in the common octopus Octopus vulgaris from the West Mediterranean Sea: The infection rates and possible effect of faunistic, environmental and ecological factors

• Published in: Journal of sea research Vol. 83; pp. 195 - 201
• Main Authors: Mayo-Hernández, E., Barcala, E., Berriatua, E., García-Ayala, A., Muñoz, P.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abundance; Aggregata; Aggregata octopiana; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Apicomplexa; Biological and medical sciences; Coasts; Coccidia; Faunistic approach; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Intermediate host; Intestines; Invertebrates; Lesions; Males; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Mollusca; Octopus; Octopus vulgaris; Octopuses; Pagurus excavatus; Parasite ecology; Protozoa; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; Mediterranean Sea; West Mediterranean; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED; Parasite ecology; Coccidia; Intermediate host; Faunistic approach; Octopus; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Octopus vulgaris; Parasite; Environmental factor; Ecology; Infection; Marine environment; Cephalopoda; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• ISSN: 1385-1101; 1873-1414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2013.04.001

Prevalence and distribution of the coccidian parasite Aggregata octopiana (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) in the Mediterranean Spanish coasts were studied. A total of 114 octopuses were sampled from 30 geographic sectors by trawl fleet, and whitish macroscopic oocysts typical of A. octopiana infection were recorded in 96% of octopuses in the digestive tract and mainly in intestine and spiral caecum. The univariate analysis showed that lesion extension varied according to specific octopus, environmental and faunistic variables. A subsequent multivariable analysis indicated that the risk of macroscopic lesions in the caecum was greater in males compared to females, in octopuses living in deeper compared to shallower waters and in hauls where the crustacean Pagurus excavatus was present. The study provides further evidence of the abundance of A. octopiana in octopus ecosystems urging for further studies to evaluate its health impact. The combined abundance of infected octopuses and P. excavatus merits attention. •Octopus vulgaris were sampled from 30 Mediterranean geographic sectors.•Coccidian lesion varied according to octopus, environmental and faunistic variables.•Risk was greater in males, in deeper waters and when Pagurus excavatus was present.