Areej O. Bakhraibah
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Effect of locality and host sex on the metazoan parasitic infestation of scarus fish from the red sea coast at Jeddah and Rabigh in Saudi Arabia
Biography
Biography: Areej O. Bakhraibah
Abstract
The present study was carried out on a total number of 60 specimens of Scarus fish caught from the Rea Sea coast of Jeddah and Rabigh cities in Saudi Arabia. 30 fish from each locality were carefully examined for the determination of their metazoan parasitic fauna.Collected parasites were identified as Monogenea (Deplictanum sp.), Isopoda (Praniza Larva), Copepoda (Hatshakia sp.) and Digenea (Bucephalus and Lecithoclaster spp.) Out of 30 specimens of fish caught from the coast of Jeddah 13 (43.4%) were infested by 90 parasites which comprise of two parasite species, Deplictanum sp. and Praniza Larva with prevalence of infestation 40% and 3.33% respectively. Mean intensity of the previous infestations varied from 6-7 parasites per fish. Digenean parasites were not detected in Scarus fish of Jeddah. Concerning Scarus fish of Rabigh, a total number of infested fish was 19(63.33%) with a number of 205 parasites representing 4 parasite species. Single and multiple infestations were recorded. Monogenea (Deplictanum sp.) represents the most commonly encountered ectoparasite with prevalence (53.3%) and mean intensity (10.9) followed by Digenea (20%) and mean intensity (3.8) then Isopoda (13.3%) and mean intensity (1.75). No parasitic infestation was observed in Scarus female fish (no. 10) of Jeddah (0.0%). Out of 20 male fish 13 (65%) were infested with 90 parasites with mean intensity 6.9, comprising two parasite species, Isopoda with prevalence (55.5) and mean intensity (7) and Copepoda in only one fish (5.0%) and intensity (6). Female fish from Rabigh (no. 19) had higher prevalence (84.2%) than male (no. 11) which showed prevalence (27.3%) with Isopoda only. Four parasite species were recovered from female fish of Rabigh. Monogenea showed the highest prevalence (68.7) and mean intensity (9.7) followed by Digenea, prevalence (31.56%) and mean intensity (3.8) then Isopoda showed the lowest prevalence (21.05%) and mean intensity (1.75). Statistical analysis were used to compare the obtained data and factors that may determine the relationship between parasitic prevalence and intensity and fish sex were discussed.