Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bouain A, Siau Y (1983) Observations on the female reproduction cycle and fecundity of the species of groupers (Epinephelus) from the southeast Tunisian seashores. Mar Biol 73(21):1–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Bush AO, Lafferty KD, Lotz JM, Shostack AW (1997) Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. Revisited. J Parasitol 83:575–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bushek D, Boyd S (2006) Seasonal abundance and occurrence of the Asian isopod Synidotea laevidorsalis in Delaware Bay, USA. Biological Invasions 8:697–702–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers SD, Sikkel PC (2002) Diel emergence patterns of ecologicaly important, fish-parasitic, gnathiid isopod larvae on Caribbean coral reefs. Caribb J Sci 38:37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Charmantier G, Euzet S, Davies AJ (1987) A scanning electron microscope study of Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1964) (Isopoda: Gnathiidae), with special reference to the mouthparts of larvae and males. Crustaceana 53:134–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen BF, Poore GC (1994) Phylogeny and biogeography of the Gnathiidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) with descriptions of new genera and species, most from South-eastern Australia. Mem Mus Vic 54:271–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies AJ (1981) A scanning electron microscope study of the praniza larvae of Gnathia maxillaris Montagu (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae), with special reference to the mouthparts. J Nat Hist 15:545–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia CB, Duarte JO, Sandoval N, von Schiller D, Melo G, Navajas P (1998) Length–weight relationships of demersal fish from the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombia. Naga, ICLARM Q 21(3):30–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Genc E, Genc MA, Can MF, Genc E, Cengizler I (2005) A first documented record of gnathiid infestation on white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) in Iskenderun Bay (north-eastern Mediterranean), Turkey. J Appl Ichthyol 21:448–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gokce MA, Genc E, Genc MA (2001) Spawning patterns of goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae) and dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus). In: Akyurt I, Basusta N (eds) XI. National aquaculture and fisheries symposium, vol 8. Mustafa Kemal University Publications, Antakya, Turkey, pp 486–491

    Google Scholar 

  • González MT, Moreno CA (2005) The distribution of the ectoparasite fauna of Sebastes capensis from the southern hemisphere does not correspond with zoogeographical provinces of free-living marine animals. J Biogeogr 32:1539–1547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González P, Sánchez MI, Chirivella J, Carbonell E, Riera F, Grau A (2004) A preliminary study on gill metazoan parasites of Dentex dentex (Pisces: Sparidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea (Balearic Islands) J Appl Ichthyol 20:276–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grutter AS (1994) Spatial and temporal variations of the ecto-parasites of seven reef fish species from Lizard Island and Heron Island, Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 115:21–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grutter AS (1996) Parasite removal rates by the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 130:61–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grutter AS, Hendrikz J (1999) Diurnal variation in the abundance of juvenile parasitic gnathiid isopods on coral reef fish: implications for parasite–cleaner fish interactions. Coral Reefs 18:187–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heupel MR, Bennett MB (1999) The occurrence, distribution and pathology associated with gnathiid isopod larvae infecting the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum. Int J Parasitol 29:321–330

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holdich DM, Harrison K (1980) The crustacean isopod genus Gnathia Leach from Queensland waters with descriptions of nine new species. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 31:214–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Honma Y, Chiba A (1991) Pathological changes in the branchial chamber wall of stingrays, Dasyatis spp., associated with the presence of juvenile gnathiids (Isopoda, Crustacea). Fish Pathology 26:9–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Honma Y, Tsunaki S, Chiba A, Ho J (1991) Histological studies on the juvenile gnathiid (Isopoda, Crustacea) parasitic on the branchial chamber wall of the stingray Dasyatis akajei, in the Sea of Japan. Rep Sado Mar Biol Stn, Niigata Univ 21:37–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones CM, Grutter AS (2005) Parasitic isopods (Gnathia sp.) reduce haematocrit in captive blackeye thicklip (Labridae) on the Great Barrier Reef. J Fish Biol 66:860–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabata Z (1970) Crustacea as enemies of fishes. In: Sniesko SF, Axelrod HR (eds) Diseases of fishes, book 1. THF, Jersey City NJ, pp 1–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo CM, Morand S (2001) Gill parasites of Cephalopholis argus (Teleostei: Serranidae) from Morrea (French Polinesia): site selection and coexistence. Folia Parasitol 48:30–36

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lo CM, Morand S, Galzin R (1998) Parasite diversity: host age and size relationship in three coral reef fishes from French Polynesia. Int J Parasitol 28:1695–1708

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe RT (1834) Characters of a new genus “Leirus”, and of several new species of fishes from Madeira. Proc Zool Soc Lond 142–144

  • Martens E, Moens J (1995) The metazoan ecto- and endoparasites of the rabbitfish, Siganus sutor (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1835) of the Kenyan Coast I. Afr J Ecol 33(4):405–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKiernan JP, Alexandra S, Grutter AS, Davies AJ (2005) Reproductive and feeding ecology of parasitic gnathiid isopods of epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) with consideration of their role in the transmission of a haemogregarine. Int J Parasitol 35:19–27

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mugridge RER, Stallybrass HG (1983) A mortality of eels, Anguilla anguilla L., attributed to Gnathiidae. J Fish Dis 6:81–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagel L, Grutter AS (2007) Host preference and specialization in Gnathia sp., a common parasitic isopod of coral reef fishes. J Fish Biol 70:497–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paperna I, Por ED (1977) Preliminary data on the Gnathiidae (Isopoda) of the northern Red Sea, the Bitter lakes and the eastern Mediterranean and the biology of Gnathia piscavora n. sp. Rapp P-v Reun Commn Int Explor Sci Mer Mediterr 24:195–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Paperna I, Diamant A, Overstreet RM (1984) Monogenean infestations and mortality in wild and cultured Red Sea fishes. Helgol Meeresunters 37:445–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohde K (2005) Marine parasitology. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne and CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon. xxii, pp 565

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadovy Y (1989) Caribbean fisheries. Problems and constraints. Prog Underw Sci 13:169–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit NJ, Basson L (2002) Gnathia pantherina sp. n. (Crustasea: Isopoda: Gnathiidae), a temporary ectoparasite of same elasmobranch species from Southern Africa. Folia Parasitol 49:137–151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smit NJ, Basson L, Van As JG (2003) Life cycle of the temporary fish parasite, Gnathia africana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Gnathiidae). Folia Parasitol 50:135–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoll C (1962) Cycle évolutif de Paragnathia formica (Hesse) (Isopode-Gnathiidae). Cah Biol Mar 3:401–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinsley MC, Reilly SD (2002) Reprodactive echology of the salt marsh-dwelling marine ectoparasite Paragnathia formica (Crustasea : Isopoda). J Mar Biol Assoc UK 82:79–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Upton NPD (1984) Sexual competition and harem formation in a marine isopod Paragnathia formica Hesse. PhD thesis, Universty of Cambridge, Cambridge

  • Zabala M, Garcia-Rubies A, Louisy P, Sala I (1997) Spawning behaviour of the Mediterranean dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) (Pisces, Serranidae) in the Medes Islands Marine Reserve (NW Mediterranean, Spain). Sci Mar 61:65–77

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the staff at Sirinyer Ltd. (Iskenderun) for their help throughout this research, and Dr M. Ayce Genc, Dr M. Fatih Can, Dr Yavuz Mazlum, Dr Mustafa Oral, and Dr Soner Soylu (Mustafa Kemal University) for their technical comments. This work was supported in part by grant from the Scientific Research Fund of Mustafa Kemal University and Cukurova University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fish Diseases Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries, Mustafa Kemal University, Tayfur Sokmen Campus, 31040, Hatay, Turkey

    Ercument Genc

Authors
  1. Ercument Genc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ercument Genc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Genc, E. Infestation status of gnathiid isopod juveniles parasitic on Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) from the northeast Mediterranean Sea. Parasitol Res 101, 761–766 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0547-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0547-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation