The influence of the parasite invasion on antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver and muscles of a host, the Black Sea flounder Psetta maxima maeotica

The influence of the intestine cestode Botriocephalus gregarius on the antioxidant enzyme system in the liver and muscle of its host, the Black Sea flounder Psetta maxima maeotica, was studied. The significant increase of superoxidedismutase activity in examined tissues and changes of catalase and peroxidase activities were detected. High correlation (r > or = 0.6) between enzyme activities and the parasite number was noted. The possibility to use antioxidant enzyme activity as biomarkers of the parasite invasion in fish is discussed.