## 4 Discussion
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Fish Species**} & \multicolumn{5}{c}{**Season of Capture**} & \\ \cline{2-6}  & \begin{tabular}{c} **Spring** \\ **(\(\mu\) = 268)** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Summer** \\ **(\(\mu\) = 278)** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Autumn** \\ **(\(\mu\) = 267)** \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Winter** \\ **(\(\mu\) = 262)** \\ \end{tabular} & \(p\)**Value** \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{_Somber scombrus_} & 331.92 a (22.84–441.00) & 353.03 a (259.81–446.25) & 211.33 ab (129.81–292.85) & 57.52 b (33.21–81.83) & 0.001 \\ \hline _Solea vulgaris_ & 0.00 & 0.00 & 0.00 & 0.00 & - \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{_Sparus aurata_} & 1.41 (0.00–3.43) & 1.07 (0.00–2.69) & 0.86 (0.00–2.62) & 0.00–0.00) & 0.529 \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{_Trachurus trachurus_} & 160.30 (89.30–231.29) & 118.21 (70.53–165.88) & 128.33 (69.00–187.66) & 136.48 (85.09–187.88) & 0.888 \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Overall} & 82.44 a (63.02–101.86) & 89.46 a (69.46–109.00) & 52.00 ab (38.47–65.53) & 34.01 b (24.91–43.11) & 0.002 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: _Cont.__scombrus_), showing the highest prevalence and mean abundance. The highest prevalence of infection (i.e., 74.1%) was observed in _S. japonicus_, representing the most \"high-risk\" species in this research. Our findings are in agreement with reports by several authors [38, 39, 40, 41], where chub mackerel (_S. japonicus_) is the species with the highest infection level and mean intensity in the Mediterranean Sea. Prevalences similar to our data were found by [PERSON] et al. [42] in _Somber japonicus_ from northern Moroccan waters, with a higher prevalence in Atlantic (67.9%) than in Mediterranean (57.0%) waters, and by [PERSON] et al. [43] in mackerel from the Atlantic waters off Madeira (69.5%). Horse mackerel (_Trachurus trachurus_) represent a pelagic fish that easily becomes infected with _Anisakis_, with its diet consisting mainly of crustacea, mollusca, squids and small teleosts [44]. Our results revealed a prevalence of 68.2% in the viscera and 59.1% in the flesh in _T. trachomatis_, in accordance with the high percentages observed in Southern Europe [45, 46, 47]. Regarding Atlantic mackerel (_Somber scombrus_), they represent one of the most important pelagic fish widely propagating in the Pacific, northeast Atlantic, and Mediterranean areas. In general, mackerel caught in the Atlantic fishing grounds exhibit markedly higher _Anisakis_ infection levels than their Mediterranean congeners [48]. In research conducted by [PERSON] et al. [49], the total _Anisakis_ type I prevalence was 58.4%. However, the fresh mackerel specimens were from both the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. In the present study, the percentage of infection in _Engraulis encrasicolus_ was 50.0%, in accordance with the data reported by [PERSON] et al. [50], where similar prevalences of 55.8% and 39.8% in anchovy caught in the southern area of the Adriatic Sea and off the Croatian coast but always in the central area of the Adriatic Sea, respectively, were observed. Moreover, in the Adriatic Sea, a wide prevalence range of _Anisakis_ infection (9.8-56.5%) was reported in _Engraulis encrasicolus_ and _Sardina pilhardus_ along the coast of the Marche region (Central Italy) [51], and this wide range of values was also confirmed by another study [52], where for the same Italian coasts (central area of the Adriatic Sea), the highest levels of infection with the parasite (prevalence = 70.8%; mean abundance = 4.30) were found in _Engraulis encrasicolus_. According to reports from several authors [53, 54], in the anchovy musculature postmortem, larval migration is highly influenced by the freshness of the sample, being accelerated with the time lapsed from the moment the fish is caught. Moreover, rapid practices and correct viseration after capture are fundamental to prevent larvae migration into the muscle [55]. In our research, albeit in lower percentages (10.5%), _Anisakis_ larvae were also observed in _S. aurata_.