Population dynamics of two diplectanid species (Monogenea) parasitising sparid hosts (Sparidae)

Economically important sparid fish species, gilthead (Sparus aurata) and white seabream (Diplodus sargus) (Sparidae) are frequently parasitised by diplectanid monogeneans, known to induce severe losses in farming conditions. We have analysed population dynamic of two diplectanid species, Lamellodiscus echeneis and Lamellodiscus ignoratus (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) collected from two bream species in the Beymelek Lagoon (southwest coast of Turkey), comparing it between different host variables (fish size, age and sex) in order to have insight in parasites’ ecology, important for managing parasitosis in the intensive aquaculture system. In seabream (N = 127), L. echeneis prevalence was 46.5 % (exact 95 % confidence limits 38.90-54.14), mean abundance 5.64 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 4.20–7.65) and mean intensity 12.14 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 9.49–15.59). In white seabream (N = 102), L. ignoratus prevalence was 24.5 % (exact 95 % confidence limits 16.53–34.03), mean abundance 1.73 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 0.98–3.21) and mean intensity 7.04 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 4.60–11.40). Parasites’ parameters differed only between seasons in both hosts and between age categories in gilthead, but not in white seabream.