ENDOPARASITIC HELMINTHES OF THE STRIPED MULLET, MUGIL CEPHALUS, FROM THE NORTHERN RED SEA: EFFECT OF THE HOST'S MODE OF LIFE ON THE INCIDENCE AND INTENSITY OF INFECTION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biology, New Valley Faculty of Education, Assiut University, El-Kharga, New Valley, Egypt

2 Marine Science Department, faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

Arandom sample of 267 individuals of the mullet Mugil cephalus, was collected from the coasts of Sharm El-Sheikh, Northern Red Sea, Egypt. Examination revealed that 108 individuals with a general incidence of 40.44% were parasitized; of this number 63 (23.59%) were parasitized by Leciihoboirys sprenti (Trematoda: Digenea; Haploporidae), 54 (20.22%) by Carassoirema hengalense (Trematoda: Digenea: Haploporidae), 35(13.10%) by plerocercoid larvae (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), and 34 (12,73%) by Heterosentis overstreeti (Acanthocephala; Arhythmacanthidae), These parasites are recorded, redescribed and figured for the first time from numerous specimens from the Red Sea to give broadened descriptions. However, the female acanthocephalan H. overstreeti is hereby described for the first time. The examined sample of M cephalus were separated into three regular size groups. In each group, the incidence and intensity of each parasite were discussed. It was concluded that the incidence and intensity of parasites in marine fishes depend to a great extent on the host's mode of life.

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