Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, cilt.30, sa.2, ss.3761-3769, 2026 (Scopus)
This study investigates the effects of Anisakis simplex infection on the fatty acid composition of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) collected from the Black Sea. Fatty acid profiles of control and infected individuals were compared using Welch’s t-test, and the relationship between parasite burden and lipid composition was further evaluated using correlation analysis. No significant differences were observed between control and infected groups in major lipid classes or in the omega (n)-3/n-6 ratio. However, analysis of individual fatty acids revealed selective alterations, with significant differences detected in myristic acid (C14:0), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3) (P < 0.05). A strong negative correlation was found between parasite intensity and the n-3/n-6 ratio (r =-0.84, P < 0.01), suggesting a potential decline in nutritional index with increasing parasite burden. These findings demonstrate that A. simplex infection does not cause a total disruption of lipid composition but is associated with selective and intensity-dependent changes in specific fatty acids. The results highlight the importance of considering parasite burden when evaluating the biochemical and nutritional characteristics of marine fish.