On the morphology of Lamproglena monodi Capart, a parasitic Copepod on the gills of Tilapia in Egypt

Abstract

A parasitic copepod, Lamproglena monodi Capart, 1944, is re-described on the basis of specimens collected on the gill filaments of three species of Tilapia freshwater fish (Cichlidae) obtained at El-Minia, Nile river system, Egypt. Infection rate was 20% in Oreochromis niloticus niloticus, 16% in Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus and 20% in Tilapia zilli. Histological and SEM observations showed that the maxillae act as the primary grasping organ and that the maxillipeds scrape off the host tissue for food. The bilobed oral apparatus is considered to be homologous with the labrum.