Sterol profile of Neobenedenia melleni, a marine ectoparasite fish

[Display omitted] •Neobenedenia melleni causes severe economic impacts on aquaculture.•The study of the metabolic pathways can reveal potential pharmacological targets.•First report analysing the sterols from the parasite N. melleni.•The analysis showed the presence of cholesterol precursors, such as desmosterol.•Cholesterolor esterified, was the most abundant sterol. Neobenedenia melleni, a marine fish ectoparasite, is responsible for considerable losses in the mariculture industry. In maintaining the parasite's homeostasis, sterols are structural and functional lipids that perform vital functions. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis and the uptake of sterols can reveal potential pharmacological targets. The objective of this work was thereby to characterize the N. melleni sterols. The most abundant sterol found was cholesterol in either its free (47.48 ± 15.93 %) or esterified form. However, its precursors, squalene (3.53 ± 0.92 %) and desmosterol (0.25 ± 0.03 %), were also found, suggesting the uptake of these intermediates from hosts or an unusual active pathway of sterol biosynthesis, which can be further explored as pharmacological targets.