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 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