Ectoparasites infecting Mugil curema (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) in Amapá state estuary, in the northern Brazilian coast region

Abstract

In sh, one of the most important interactions is that occur between parasite species and environment.Wild sh interactions with parasites of different taxa can result in diseases for sh and consequently damages to the shing industry. This study investigated the ectoparasite fauna in Mugil curema in Amapá state estuary, in Brazilian coast region. The parasite prevalence was 51.4%, and a total of 282 parasites were collected among Ligophorus brasiliensis (Dactylogyridae), Excorallana longicornis (Corallanidae), larvae of Gnathia sp. (Gnathiidae) and Ergasilus atafonensis (Ergasilidae), but the dominance was of L. brasiliensis. The parasites presented highly aggregated dispersion, except for Gnathia sp. that had a random dispersion. There was a predominance of hosts parasitized by zero and one species. The relative condition factor did not differ between parasitized and non-parasitized sh. The body size of hosts did not in uence the parasite abundance. The community of ectoparasites consisted of low species richness with low infection levels. This is the rst study on parasites of sh from the coast of the State of Amapá and is the rst report of Gnathia sp. for M. curema.