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The main objective of this work was to report the presence of the pentastomid Sebekia sp. collected in Astronotus oscellatus (Agassiz, 1831) "Oscar" acquired in the Belén market, in Iquitos, Peru during the month of June 2021. The work was carried out through the observation, search, identification, measurement and calculation of the parasitological indices of Sebekia sp. collected from the musculature and stomach of 30 adult specimens of A. ocellatus analyzed. According to the results obtained from the calculation of the parasitological indices, it was recorded a prevalence of 20 %, mean intensity of 1.5 and a mean abundance of 0.3 of Sebekia sp. The morphometric measurements obtained show specimens of Sebekia sp. with a mean body length of 156.29 µm and 65.78 µm width. The presence of this parasite in the musculature of A. ocellatus raises an alert to the possibility of its accidental ingestion due to the consumption of its meat in preparations that use raw or undercooked meat. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal reportar la presencia del pentastómido Sebekia sp. colectados en Astronotus oscellatus (Agassiz, 1831) “Acarahuazu” adquiridos del mercado Belén, Iquitos, Perú, durante el mes de junio 2021. El trabajo se realizó mediante la observación, búsqueda, identificación, medición y cálculo de los índices parasitarios de Sebekia sp. colectados de la musculatura y del estómago de 30 ejemplares adultos de A. ocellatus analizados. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos del cálculo de los índices parasitarios, se reportó una prevalencia de 20%, intensidad media de 1,5 y una abundancia media de 0,3 de Sebekia sp. Las medidas morfométricas obtenidas muestran a ejemplares de Sebekia sp. con una longitud promedio del cuerpo de 156,29 µm y 65,78 µm de ancho. La presencia de este parásito en la musculatura de A. ocellatus despierta un llamado de alerta ante la posibilidad de su ingesta accidental debido al consumo de su carne en preparaciones que utilicen la carne cruda o mal cocida.

Wildlife exploitation has nutritional, medicinal, luxury, sociocultural, and financial significance for human societies. Yet, it also risks undesired outcomes for conservation, animal welfare, and public health. Although it is prohibited in urban markets, the wildlife trade in Peru is poorly monitored, and practiced openly. To identify those species most likely to be affected, we investigated the trade in live wild animals and their derivatives at the Belen Market, and additional smaller open-air markets, which together make Iquitos the largest and most important wildlife trade hubs in the Peruvian Amazon. Specifically, we asked what wild animals or animal products were most profitable, what were they used for, and which wild animals were perceived by vendors to have increased most in rarity. Vendors provided 44 local animal names, from which we inferred an estimated 205 species. Nine per cent (n = 19) of these inferred species are categorised on the IUCN Red List as threatened; 35% (n = 71) are categorised as declining. We found that wild meat/food was the most frequently stated purpose of sale of wildlife, followed by pets, spiritual/belief-based use, traditional medicine, and decorative use. The most commonly cited most profitable wildlife derivatives were ‘lowland paca’, ‘yellow footed tortoise’, and ‘collared peccary’. A significant positive correlation was found between the most profitable species and those that are becoming increasingly rare. Further research focused on the actual impacts on wildlife, the socio-economic importance of this trade, the societal pressures driving consumer demand, and the risks to public health is warranted.