Infestation status of gnathiid isopod juveniles parasitic on Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) from the northeast Mediterranean Sea

GENÇ E.

Parasitology Research, vol.101, no.3, pp.761-766, 2007 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 101 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s00436-007-0547-2
  • Journal Name: Parasitology Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.761-766
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This is the first detailed documented record of Gnathiid isopod praniza larvae infestating dusky grouper, (Epinephelus marginatus Lowe 1834) in the northeast Mediterranean Sea (36°36′N-36°07′E, 35°52′N-36°25′E). Fish were sampled monthly from Iskenderun Bay during a 3-year period from 2000 to 2003 [N = 468, W ± SD (range) = 503.69 ± 342.35 g (177-2,832 g), TL ± SD (range) = 32.39 ± 9.22 cm (16.1-67.0 cm), W total = 0.213L total 2.19, r total 2 = 0.85]. Juveniles of the Gnathia sp. were only extracted from the epithelium of the buccal cavity. The monthly and seasonal patterns in infestation rates (mean prevalence, P = 27.35% and mean intensity, MI ± SD = 21.35 ± 16.19), and the relationship between length-weight and infested/non-infested fish were calculated. This study suggests that gnathiid parasite has no effect on the growth and general health condition of infested fish, although high intensities were observed in fish. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.