Identification and prevalence of the ectoparasite Octolasmis in sand lobster (Panulirus homarus) and bamboo lobster (Panulirus versicolor) in Floating Net Cages in Sape, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The problems that are often faced by fishermen include decreased durability and stress during handling caused by pathogenic organisms known as ectoparasites on the gills that disrupt the respiratory tract of the lobster during transportation. An ectoparasite that often infests the gills of lobsters includes Octolasmis, which is suspected to be a factor that triggers stress and causes death with a high level of infestation. This study aims to identify the species and to determine the prevalence of the ectoparasite Octolasmis that infests sand lobster (P.homarus) and bamboo lobster (P.versicolor) in the floating net cages in Sape, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. This study used the survey method and the data analysis was descriptive. The results showed that the species that infested the sand lobster (P.homarus) and bamboo lobster (P.versicolor) were Octolasmis lowei and Octolasmis angulata. The prevalence in sand lobster (P. homarus) was 70%, which consisted of a single infestation of 55% (infested O.angulata) and the mixed infestation was 15% (O.angulata and O.lowei). The prevalence in the bamboo lobster (P. versicolor) was 100%, which consisted of a single infestation of 84% (infested O. angulata) and the mixed infestation was 16% (O.angulata and O.lowei).