Abstract
Histopathological changes induced by ergasilid parasitic infections on the gills of economically important fish from Batticaloa lagoon were investigated from October 2003 to November 2004. Anabas sp, Ambassis gymnocephalus, Chanos chanos, Cirrhinus mrigala, Etroplus suratensis, E. maculatus, Hemirhamphus sp, Leiognathus splendens, Lutjanus sp, Mugil cephalus, Nematalosa nasus, Oreochromis mossambicus, Siganus lineatus, S. oramin, Tachysurus sp, Terapon jarbua and Triacanthus brevirostris were naturally infected with the ergasilids viz. Ergasilus sieboldi, E. parvitergum, and Dermoergasilus sp. Intensity of infection ranged from 0 to 30 ergasilids per host fish. Histopathological investigations of infected gills showed extensive tissue damage due to attachment and feeding of ergaslids. Ergasilus sp attached close to the base of the filaments near the gill arch and the pressure exerted by the parasite attached to the lateral margin of the gill filaments induced atrophy of the secondary lamellae. Tissue reactions included hyperplasia and mucous cell proliferation of the gill epithelium and damaged primary and secondary lamellae. In addition, considerably high numbers of eosinophilic granular cells and rodlet cells were noticed in the gills of the infected fish. Histopathological changes induced by the ergasilid infections would adversely affect the proper functioning of the gills of these host fish. Mass mortalities of the fish inhabiting Batticaloa lagoon which occurred during April and May 2004 may be attributed to the infection of the fish gills by these ergasilids. DOI: 10.4038/sljas.v12i0.2215Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 12 (2007): 77-87
Highlights
Parasitic copepods are common on cultured and wild finfish, and there is a vast literature available for the taxonomy and host ranges
A wide variety of fin fish species were found to be infected with several species of ergasilids viz. E. parvitergum, E. sieboldi and Dermoergasilus sp
The prevalence and intensity of infection varied with the host fish species studied (Tables 2, 3 & 4)
Summary
Parasitic copepods are common on cultured and wild finfish, and there is a vast literature available for the taxonomy and host ranges. Many of these species have long been recognized to have the potential to affect the growth, fecundity and survival of hosts In Sri Lanka, preliminary parasitic surveys on a range of economically important marine and freshwater fish species conducted by some workers recorded a number ofErgasilus species (Nilakarawasam and Sommerville 1998; Rahuman and Vinobaba 1999), their histopathological impact on their hosts from lagoon environments remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to study the host-parasite interaction with specific reference to the pathology induced by ergasilid parasites on economically important food fish inhabiting in Batticaloa lagoon
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