Metazoan parasites of the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula, Linnaeus 1758) caught off the Mediterranean Sea

Scyliorhinus canicula, also known as small-spotted catshark, is an elasmobranch worldwide distributed and in some areas of Mediterranean basin represents the most abundant elasmobranches species. This species is extensively fished and marketed throughout Europe, however despite its economic relevance, the conservation status, the biology and pathology of this elasmobranchs species are poorly investigated. Goal of this study was to investigate the metazoan fauna of S. canicula caught in the Mediterranean Sea. During the study period a total of 86 specimens of S. canicula were caught and examined. Of the 86 examined S. canicula, 81 (94.2%) tested positive for parasites presence. Two parasitic taxa were identified, the nematode Proleptus obtusus (93%) and the cestode Eutetrarhynchus ruficollis (2.3%). The high prevalence of P. obtusus observed in the present study is similar to those observed in Ireland, United Kingdom and Spain. Noteworthy, for the first time the cestode E. ruficollis was retrieved in specimens of S. canicula.