Problems caused by isopod parasites in commercial fishes

Abstract

Crustaceans are found in every type of aquatic ecosystem, and there are species adapted to extremes of temperature, pressure, salinity, and even anoxia. Parasitic isopods are typically marine and usually inhabit the warmer seas. They are blood-feeding; several species settle in the buccal cavity of fish, others live in the gill chamber or on the body surface including the fins. Isopods can cause morbidity and mortality in captive fish populations. The damage of gill filaments thus was not only due to the feeding but also by the pressure exerted by the dorsal side of the parasite. Erosion of gill lamellae, damage of gill rakers and pale gills were the severe gross lesions observed as a consequence of isopod infestation. Infested fish exhibited histopathological anomalies such as tissue reactions, primarily associated with the formation of granulomas consisted of macrophages and epithelioid cells, which are occasionally surrounded by a thin rim of fibroblasts. A marked increase in the size of the parasite is associated with the development of marsupium full of juvenile parasite. The infestation usually pressure atrophy often accompanies the presence of larger parasites. They may lead to economic losses in commercial species of fish. Thus, treating fishes infected with isopods without treating their environment may only provide temporary relief. It is also important to recognize the potential for secondary infections associated with severe isopod infections.