Some copepod crustacea infesting some marine fish in Egypt

Abstract EN

This study was carried on 230 marine fish samples;100 Sebastes marinus, 80 Scomberomerus commerson and 50 Siganus canaliculatus, collected from the Red Sea as well as from the fish markets at Ismailia and Suez cities for detection of parasitic copepods.

The overall prevalence of infestation was 10.43 %, and three parasitic copepods were detected.

The detected copepod parasites were one lerneopodid, Clavella uncinata (1%) from the gills of S.

marinus, one caligid, Caligus elongatus (6%) and.

(8.75%) from the gills of S.

marinus and S.

commerson respectively and one hatcshekiid, Hatschekia sp.

(20 %) from the gills of S.

canaliculatus.

Clavella uncinata appeared to be first recorded from fish in Egypt.

The morphological criteria of each detected copepod species were described.

Microhabitat distribution of Hatschekia sp.

was regular on right and left side of the gills while the distribution was high on second and third gill arches on both sides.