Survey on the parasites infested crayfish Procambarus clarkii, Girard,1852 (Crustacea, Cambaridae) in Egypt.

Abstract

A parasitological survey on 1474 fresh water crayfish Procambarus clarkii was carried out during the period from January 2013 till May 2014 from different canals at Sharkia, Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh Provinces in Egypt. Out of the examined crayfish , 8 were found to be infected with ectoparasitic protozoan Epistylis cambari on the gill filaments with percentage of infection 0.54%. Infection rates were varied between investigated areas, the percentages of infection were 0.21%, 0.57% and 2.7% at Sharkia, Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh provinces respectively. Regarding to the seasonal prevalence of Epistylis cambari in examined crayfishes the peak of infection at Sharkia Province was recorded in summer (3.5%) , while at Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh Provinces was detected in spring (1.13%) and (5.12%) respectively. The present study revealed that 11 out of 1474 (0.88%) were infected by one or more parasitic nematode larvae Strongyloides stercoralis that were observed in hemoceol of crayfish .The percentages of infection were 0.31%, 2.3% and 1.