Sea lice are widespread copepods in marine teleost around the world. In this paper the first record of Caligus asperimanus Pearse, 1951 in the Western South Atlantic is documented parasitizing Lutjanus jocu and Lutjanus vivanus caught from coastal zones of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro State, respectively.

The response of biochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed in dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) grown in net cages, as well as for the specimens kept in the laboratory during an infestation by Neobenedenia melleni, and after treatment with freshwater bath and injectable application of levamisole. Significant changes were observed in N. melleni parasitized individuals, characterized by increased glucose and lactate levels, as well as a significant fish hematocrit reduction and leukocyte increase. Treatment with freshwater baths, concomitant with injectable levamisole application, showed therapeutic efficacy in several parameters after 14 days of treatment.