Morphomolecular and pathological study of Scaphanocephalus sp. in new host Siganus argenteus in the Arabian Gulf.

In this study, Scaphanocephalus parasite (Platyhelminthes: Heterophyidae) metacercariae were found in Siganus argenteus (forktail rabbitfish or streamlined spinefoot) in the Arabian Gulf of Jubail province, Saudi Arabia. The findings may constitute new host and locality records for this parasite. Based on the number of black spots containing parasite cysts per fish, our study indicated that Siganus argenteus had high infection intensities of encysted metacercariae belonging to the genus Scaphanocephalus.