EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE ZOONOTIC NEMATODES PARASITING TILAPIES OF THE GENUS Oreochromis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) WITH SOCIOECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Abstract

This work aimed to review the main epidemiological data on zoonotic nematodes parasitizing tilapia of the genus Oreochromis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) with socioeconomic importance. The literature review was conducted in six specialized search engines, and a total of 320 articles were analyzed. After eliminating documents with duplicated information or those that did not refer to zoonotic nematodes in cichlids, 10 bibliographic sources were processed. The analysis showed that the available documentation refers mainly to the genera Gnathostoma in America and Contracaecum in Africa, while data are scarce in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. This work includes information on prevalence, distribution, and diagnosis, both from natural and artificial environments. In conclusion, data on the epidemiology of zoonotic nematodes that parasitize tilapia of the genus Oreochromis are scarce, so attention should be paid to monitoring economically important fish to prevent parasitological problems in the production chain.