Larval anisakids and other helminths in the hake, Merluccius gayi (Guichenot) from Chile

One hundred and twenty hake Merluccius gayi caught off central Chile were examined for helminth parasites. Sixty hake were kept in ice from the catch of a trawler were examined upon arrival at port, while the other 60 hake were dissected on board immediately after collection. Ninety one per cent of hake were infected with one or more species of the following helminths: trypanorhynch plerocerci of Grillotia dollfusi Carvajal, 1971; adult worms of the genus Clestobothrium; larval nematodes of the genera Anisakis and Phocanema; 86% of the total were infected with Anisakis sp. and 42.5% with Phocanema sp. Infection with larval nematodes increased with length of the fish and there was a greater incidence of infection among the females. There was a greater frequency of occurrence of the parasites in the viscera than in the musculature.