LONG-TERM OBSERVATION ON Philometra lateolabracis (NEMATODA) INFESTATION IN OVARIES OF GOLDBLOTCH GROUPER (Epinephelus costae Steindachner, 1878), ISKENDERUN BAY, NORTHEAST MEDITERRANEAN SEA
This is the first long term study on status of Philometra sp. infestations in female goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae) in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Groupers were sampled monthly from Iskenderun Bay (35- 3635- 36during a 6-year breading period from 2004 to the summer of 2009. A total of 443 E. costae were sampled during the period. Philometra were only extracted from the goldblotch grouper ovaries and detected as histozoic parasites. Breeding/summer seasonal patterns and also overall status in infestation rates (the overall mean prevalence P=51.01Ni=224, Nh=219) and variations of standard lengths and live weights of infested fish (TLi=31.47Wi=451.05g) / healty fish (TLh=31.20cm, Wh=449.05g) were calculated monthly. Findings suggested that prevalence of philometrid infestations in goldblotch grouper is worth being taken into account, in terms of potential damages on future generations of this finfish.
Epinephelus species (Serranidae) are widely known as the host of philometrid nematodes. They were particularly found at risk because of their large body size, long lifespan, slow reproduction, and high market values. In nature Philometrids are important disease agents for groupers. In 2004 Moravec and Genc identified histozoic parasite as a Philometra lateorabracis Yamaguti, 1935.
However the prevalence of parasite has not been documented for E. costae. Therefore this survey was planned. Warm water conditions resulted in an unusually heavy infestation. The high prevalence of nematodes in the breeding season (Table 1) clearly underlines the potential threat to the grouper populations. Future studies should make it possible to accumulate enough biological information to find out control procedures to reduce these parasite infestations
Epinephelus species (Serranidae) are widely known as the host of philometrid nematodes. They were particularly found at risk because of their large body size, long lifespan, slow reproduction, and high market values. In nature Philometrids are important disease agents for groupers. In 2004 Moravec and Genc identified histozoic parasite as a Philometra lateorabracis Yamaguti, 1935.
However the prevalence of parasite has not been documented for E. costae. Therefore this survey was planned. Warm water conditions resulted in an unusually heavy infestation. The high prevalence of nematodes in the breeding season (Table 1) clearly underlines the potential threat to the grouper populations. Future studies should make it possible to accumulate enough biological information to find out control procedures to reduce these parasite infestations