Distribution of Polyopisthocotyleans in Some Marine Fishes from the Gulf of Thailand, Chonburi Province

Abstract

A survey of polyopisthocotylean parasites was carried out in 77 marine fish species from the Gulf of Thailand, Chonburi province during 2006-2007. A total of 17 species from eight families of polyopisthocotyleans were identified from fish samples during the study period, as follows: Family Axinidae (Axine sp.), Family Discocotylidae (Oligapta sp., Vallisia sp.), Family Gastrocotylidae (Gotocotyla sp.), Family Heteraxinidae (Allencotyla sp., Leuresthicola sp.), Family Heteromicrocotylidae (Heteromicrocotyla sp.), Family Mazocraeidae (Diclidophoropsis sp.,Mazocraeoides spp.), Family Microcotylidae (Aspinatrium sp., Microcotyle spp.) and Family Thoracocotylidae (Pricea multae, Pseudothoracocotyla ovalis). Microcotyle spp. had the highest number of species (four out of six). The prevalence of polyopisthocotylean parasites in Caranx armatus and Tylosurus annulata was the highest (100%). The mean intensity of Pricea multae in Scomberomorus guttatus was the greatest, followed by Pseudothoracocotyla ovalis in Scomberomorus guttatus and Mazocraeoides sp.2 in Anodontostoma chacunda, 5.6, 5.33 and 4 respectively. In this study, Allencotyla sp., Aspinatrium sp., Diclidophoropsis sp., Leuresthicola sp.,Mazocraeoides sp. 1, Mazocraeoides sp.2, Oligapta sp., Pricea multae, Pseudothoracocotyla ovalis and Vallisia sp., parasites of Caranx armatus, Sphyraena obstusata, Johnius dussumieri, Tylosurus annulata, Anodontostoma chacunda, Stotephorus sp., Hyporhamphus gaimardi, Scomberomorus guttatus and Chorinemus lysan were reported for the first time in Thailand.