New record of larval Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda: Raphidascar-ididae) in pick handle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) ) from the Persian Gulf, Iran

Pick handle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) ) is one of the most important commercial species in the Persian Gulf. In order to investigate prevalence and intensity of nematoda, 150 S. jello &nbsp;from three sites (Khuzestan, Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces) of the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf were monthly investigated in the period 2012-2013. The nematodes belonging to the genus Hysterothylacium (family Raphidascarididae) were isolated from the abdominal cavity and digestive tract with a prevalence of 12% and mean intensity of 4.8. Intensity of infestation was increased with size of the host (P<0.05). This study is the FIrst report of presence of the third and fourth- stage of an unreported type of the third and fourth- stage of an unreported type of Hysterothylacium &nbsp;larvae in S. jello &nbsp;from the Persian Gulf.