Crustaceans

Crustaceans as fish pathogens

Marine Crustaceans are very species rich and can have a negative effect on the infested fish. They often possess attachment organs that are deeply embedded in the host' s tissue. Other species that move freely on the surface of the fish can rupture the protective skin, destroy the mucus cover and open wounds for subsequent bacterial infections. Crustaceans together with monogenean flatworms are therefore the most problematic fish parasites in marine finfish culture worldwide.

Crustacean fish parasites are most species rich and diverse on tropical fish. The tropics, however, is a region with increasing aquaculture development, underlying constrains by pathogenic fish parasites that can threaten the cultivated fish. Consequently, information is needed on the crustacean diversity and species composition in coastal regions where the cultivation of fish has future potential.

A total of 23 parasitic copepod (Figs. 1-2) and 2 isopod species were found on 6 different fish species in a mangrove ecosystem in Central Java, Indonesia. 23 species occurred as adult and 3 species were found in the larval larval stage. The copepods of the families Ergasilidae and Caligidae were the most common parasites on the examined fish (Yuniar et al. 2007).

All fish species were at least infested with two copepod species, with the exception of the lutjanid Lutjanus johnii . Scatophagus argus and Mugil cephalus harboured with 7 and 6 species respectively the most species rich ectoparasite fauna. The copepods of the genus Ergasilus and Caligus acanthopagri on S. argus showed the highest prevalence (78.6 %) and intensity (17.8 (1-233) and 5.3 (1-22)) of infestation.

The recorded parasite fauna in Segara Anakan Lagoon was characterized by marine, brackish water and probably also freshwater components. The brackish water environment of Segara Anakan does not prevent disease outbreaks due to parasitic copepods by preventing pathogenic marine or freshwater species to enter the lagoon. This might cause fish health problems if the Segara Anakan Lagoon would be developed for finfish mariculture in future ot

The above plate illustrates the ectoparasitic parasite diversity of the fish pathogenic genus Caligus in Segara Anakan Lagoon, Central Java, Indonesia.

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