Prevalence of copepod parasite in Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Ashtamudi Estuary, Kerala, India

Abstract

Many copepod parasites are ecto-parasites which negatively affect the appearance and reduced production of economically important fish species (wild and cultured) which makes their marketing difficult. Copepods have been shown to be the dominant metazoan parasites in Kerala waters. This study therefore examined the prevalence of copepod parasite in Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Ashtamudi Estuary, Kerala, India. Ninety-seven specimens belonging to the Mugil cephalus were examined for the prevalence of parasite.

Keywords: Copepods, parasite, frequency, Mugil cephalus, Ashtamudi Lake