Parasites in the Economically Important Bivalve from the Mediterranean Sea Coast, Egypt

This study investigated the parasites of one of the commercial important bivalve species (Phaphia
undulata) during 2018 from Izbat Alburj Region, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. The study reported the
following parasites in the bivalve: Entameaba histolytica, Tricurus tricura and Giardia lambelia. The most
dominant parasites weregill parasites (55.30%), followed by gonad parasite (31.82%) then the intestine
parasite (12.86%).The maximum gill infection was detected in winter (93 individuals). Whiles that of the
gonad and intestine was recorded in spring (62 and 31 individuals, respectively). This study also
indicated that E.histolytica existed in the clam throughout the year while the other parasites disappeared
in autumn. Seasonal abundance of each parasite species in the infected clam explained that the highest
count of E. histolytica was recorded in spring and the lowest was in autumn. On the other hand, the
highest count of Giardia lambelia was recorded in winter, followed by spring while Tricurus tricura was
more represented in winter, followed by summer. The correlation of parasite numberwith the
environmental factors, clam measurements and clam weights showed a very weak relationship. The
current research warns of eating marine bivalves without good cooking for the presence of the harmful
phase in the infected clams.