title: Seasonal fluctuation of the prevalence of cymothoids representing the genus Nerocila (Crustacea, Isopoda), parasitizing commercially exploited marine fishes from the Malabar Coast, India.
abstract: The presently reported study investigated seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence in four species of Nerocila infesting commercially exploited marine fishes representing the families Engraulidae, Clupeidae and Ambassidae, from the Malabar coast (Kerala, India). Seven of 56 fish species belonging to 23 families were infested by either one or two species of Nerocila. All the collected Nerocila species showed significant seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence of infestation, reaching maximum from October through April and minimum (or total absence of the parasites) from May through September. Such fluctuations were analyzed based on environmental parameters. Body surface, postero-ventral side of the head and the lateral line of the host fish form the major infestation site for the recovered Nerocila species. Skin lesion and hemorrhages were observed on the fish parasitized with these cymothoids.
authors: Post Graduate Department of Zoology and Research Centre, Sree Narayana College, Kannur, 670 007, India.
authors: Panakkool-Thamban
authors: PT
authors: Aneesh
authors: Kappalli
authors: K
authors: Sudha
authors: Keethadath
authors: K
authors: Arshad
authors: Gopinathan
authors: G
authors: Anilkumar
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Trilles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D019156:Indian Ocean / Q000453:epidemiology; D033321:Isopoda / Q000145:classification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity