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Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO 38:235-237 (1999)  -  doi:10.3354/dao038235

First record of Emetha audouini, a cymothoid isopod parasite, from cultured sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax in Greece

E. P. Papapanagiotou1, J.-P. Trilles2,*, G. Photis1

1Laboratory of Ichthyology and Fish Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
2Laboratoire d'Ecophysiologie des Invertébrés, Université de Montpellier II, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, CP 092, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
*Addressee for correspondence. E-mail:

ABSTRACT: For the first time, Emetha audouini (Milne Edwards, 1840), a cymothoid isopod, is reported parasitising cage cultured sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758 in Greece. The specimens observed are larvae (Pulli II). They were found in great numbers in the buccal and branchial cavity of young (3.5 mo old) sea bass, in an intensive cage farm facility. This parasite is certainly transferred to sea bass from wild populations of Sparidae or Centracanthidae. Serious lesions were visible and typical of a crustacean infection, with extensive and deep skin damage in the head area. The cumulative mortality, over a 2 wk period, was 10.75%. The parasitic problem was successfully dealt with by optimization of management practices rather than use of costly and dangerous chemotherapeutants.


KEY WORDS: Cymothoid · Isopod · Parasite · Emetha audouini · Dicentrarchus labrax · Greece


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