title: High prevalence and infestation ofMothocya renardi(Isopoda, Cymothoidae) in marine fishStrongylura leiura(Bleeker 1850).
abstract: Cymothoid isopods are parasites that cause severe damage to the fish species. The present study was focused to carry out the parasitic infestation on the one of the important marine fishStrongylura leiuraduring the 2 years period between June 2009 and May 2011. 272 fish specimens collected and about 157 (57.72 %) fishes were infested by the cymothoid which were concealed under the gill arches of the host. Infested parasite was identified asMothocya renardi. The prevalence rate of parasites during different seasons of the range of host specificity of isopods was studied. Variation of infestation rate also depends on the size, length and weight of the host. The sites of infestation by the parasitic crustaceans are highly specific. The infestation had affected the normal growth of the host fish and also probably leads the high levels of secondary infections.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 608 502 Tamil Nadu India.
authors.forename: Samuthirapandian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravichandran
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 608 502 Tamil Nadu India.
authors.forename: Kanagasabapathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivasubramanian
authors.affiliation: Unit of Toxicology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046 Tamil Nadu India.
authors.forename: Ganapathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rameshkumar
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 608 502 Tamil Nadu India.
authors.forename: Narayanasamy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veerappan
keywords: Infestation; Isopod parasites; Mothocya renardi; Prevalence; Strongylura leiura