Elthusa alvaradoensis Rocha-Ramírez, Chávez-López & Bruce, 2005 (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) parasitizing the inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766) on the continental shelf off central Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

The prevalence, fecundity, and size distribution of the isopod, Elthusa alvaradoensis, parasitizing the inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens on the continental shelf off central Veracruz, Mexico, were studied. A total sample of 136 fish with a 46.3% prevalence of E. alvaradoensis was obtained during a survey cruise in February, 1996. The isopods were preferentially located on the second and third branchial arches; the lesions ranged from a slight abrasion of the branchial filaments to their complete removal. Mean host size did not vary significantly between the parasitized and unparasitized fractions. Maximum total length for male parasites was 12 mm, while female size ranged from 14.5 to 26.3 mm. Parasite fecundity varied from 100 to 2280 eggs and was unrelated to female size (p < 0.05). Male parasites exhibit a positive allometric growth, while this is negative for females. RESUMENSe estudió la prevalencia, fecundidad y distribución de tallas del isópodo Elthusa alvaradoensis parasitando el lagarto máximo, Synodus foetens, en la plataforma central de Veracruz, México. De la muestra total de 136 peces obtenida de un crucero de estudio en febrero de 1996, la prevalencia de E. alvaradoensis fue del 46.3%. Los isópodos fueron localizados preferentemente en el segundo y tercer 4 )

Prevalence of cymothoid isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda) and proximate analysis of parasites and their host fishes, Southeastern India

“…Parasitic isopods are blood feeders, nutritionally dependent on their hosts and may affect points of infestation in the fish body. Damages include causing gill filament atrophy, removal of branchial arches, obstruction of the mouth cavity and destruction of the tongue, growth retardation, and weakened condition that often leads to death of the animal (Williams and Bunkley-Williams 1994;Bunkley-Williams and Williams 1998;Chavez-Lopez et al 2005;Rhode 2005).…”

Habitat and host associations of the fish‐burrowing parasite Artystone minima (Cymothoidae: Isopoda) in eastern Amazonia

“…Hosts suffer hemorrhaging and physical damage to tissues (Huizinga, 1972) and an energy deficit due to the resources the parasite is taking from it (Johnson et al., 2019). Hosts may also suffer from specific limitations on oxygen demand from gill damage (Rameshkumar & Ravichandran, 2013), limits to food ingestion when the tongue is parasitized (Chávez López et al., 2005) or limits to locomotive ability when body cavity parasites impact muscular movement or external parasites increase drag (De Lima et al., 2005). Species of Nannostomus Günther, 1872 rarely use body flexion during normal swimming, instead propelling their more‐or‐less rigid body using pectoral fin movements (ostraciiform swimming) as part of cryptic behavior to avoid the attention of predators.…”

“…Fish parasites can negatively impact their hosts in numerous ways, including reduced growth (Tsai & Dai, 1999); tissue damage (Chávez López et al., 2005; Rohde, 2005; Yamano et al., 2011); castration (Fogelman et al., 2009); and physiological limitations such as restriction of respiratory and locomotor capacity (De Lima et al., 2005; Martin et al., 2014). Parasite infection, infestation rates, and intensity are known to be related to host characteristics, including diet, as well as abiotic (habitat) and biotic (predator) environment (Arostegui et al., 2018; Gehman et al., 2017).…”

Understanding growth relationships of African cymothoid fish parasitic isopods using specimens from museum and field collections

“…Sala-Bozano et al (2012) reported prevalence of 47% and 30% for Ceratothoa italica Schioedte & Meinert, 1883 in the Tyrrhenian Sea and Balearic Sea, respectively, whereas prevalence of C. famosa from all South African fish hosts was only 9%. Moreover, Chávez-López et al (2005) reported a 46.3% prevalence of gill-dwelling Elthusa alvaradoensis Rocha-Ramírez, Chávez-López & Bruce, 2005 off the continental shelf in Mexico. This prevalence is ∼13 times higher than the prevalence of gill-dwelling, M. affinis .…”