Influence of the host sex, size, and season on Ergasilus lizae infestation of Thicklip Grey Mullet (Chelon labrosus, L., 1758) in Beymelek Lagoon Lake (Antalya, Türkiye)

Abstract

The aim of the study was investigation of the changes in infestation levels of Ergasilus lizae on economically important fish species, thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrossus) from Beymelek Lagoon Lake located on the western Mediterranean coast (Antalya, Türkiye). In this context, the infestation levels of E. lizae with respect to fish sexes, fish sizes and season were evaluated statistically. The research was conducted seasonally between May 2008 to April 2009, and the gills which belong to 103 fish samples were examined. The overall infection prevalence and mean intensity values were 60.2% and 15.95, respectively. The prevalence and mean intensity of E. lizae for thicklip grey mullet male and sexually unidentified fish samples were higher than that for females. Prevalence and mean intensity were determined the highest in size class I with 69.6% and 26.3, and almost the same values in size groups II and III. E. lizae on host fish were observed in every season. The highest prevalence and mean intensity of E. lizae was recorded in spring with 100%, 24.88. The lowest prevalence of E. lizae was recorded in summer at 12% and the lowest mean intensity of E. lizae was in the summer and the winter with 9, 8.67 respectively. The infestation level of E. lizae was statistically significant with host sex and season, but there was no effect on the fish size groups.