Monostephanostomum mesospinosum (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) Infecting the Coastal Trevally Carangoides caeruleopinnatus (Carangiformes: Carangidae) from the Marine Water off Saudi Arabia

Background: Carangids, like any other fish, can become infected with a variety of external and internal parasites. Little information on parasite infestations in these fish species is known. This study aimed to provide light parasites that infect caragnids Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total 20 Carangoides caeruleopinnatus specimens were collected from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia) then examined for presence digenetic trematodes. Parasitic isolated studied morphologically by using microscopic examination molecularly via partial sequencing 18S rRNA 28S genes. Result: Only one parasitic has been identified. morphometric compatible previously Monostephanostomum mesospinosum, identified malabaricus VSK, BOB. Phylogeny revealed putative acanthocolpid nested well within clade clustering species, which along morphological data, suggests it member genus Monostephanostomum. Query sequences showed identities 97.99% 97.98% (EF506762.1.1) (EF506763.1) nolani, respectively. reflects third account this as endoparasitic taxa various carangid providing novel DNA data species.