Intensity and Predilection of Helminth Parasites of the Red Snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)

Abstract

Marine fish, particularly the red snappers, are often exposed to helminth parasitic infestation. As a result of the parasitic infestation, the fish population, the fish weight, and the morphological changes in the fish are shrinking. The present research aimed to find out the intensity and predilection of the helminth ectoparasites over the infection of the red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) and employed the survey method for this purpose. The sampling was carried out by the purposive sampling technique. The sample obtained consisted of 30 fish, 20% of the total red snapper population of 150 fish reared in the floating net cages of Balai Besar Perikanan Budidaya Laut Lampung. The intensity of the fish infestation by a mixture of Haliotrema epinepheli and Benedenia epinepheli was 132.5 individuals/fish. Neobenedenia girellae and Haliotrema epinepheli infected fish with an intensity of 149.41 individuals/fish. The 66.7% of Benedenia epinepheli had a predilection for the dorsal fin, and 33.3% for the anal fin. In Neobenedenia girellae, 57.1% had a predilection for the body surface, 37.2% for the head surface, and 5.7% for the dorsal fin. In conclusion, all sampled fish were positively infected with helminth ectoparasites, including Neobenedenia girellae, Haliotrema epinepheli, and Benedenia epinepheli.