Market Survey of Fish Species Infested with Parasitic Isopods, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Parasitic isopods are blood-feeding ecto-parasites that cause significant economic losses to fisheries by killing, stunting growth, or damaging fishes. This research was undertaken to determine the species of local fishes infested by parasitic isopods at Creek Road market and Eagle Island waterside, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Survey lasted for a period of four months, September-December, 2020. Seventy parasitic isopods were recovered from 64 infested fish specimens. Fish species examined included mullets (Liza falcipinis), croacker (Pseudotolithus elongatus), catfish (Auris haudelotti), red snapper (Lutjanus sp.), Tilapia, sardine (Sardinella maderensis) and Pomadasys (Pomadasys peroteti). Four of these fish species were infested with isopods: Red snapper (Lutjanus sp.), Tilapia, Sardine (Sardinella maderensis) and Pomadasys peroteti, with Pomadasys recording the highest infestation rate. Sixty parasitic isopods were recovered from Pomadasys, 7 from Lutjanus sp., 2 from Tilapia and 1 from Sardinella maderensis. These parasites were found attached to the fish body, fixed in the fish mouth, some were attached on the fish lips and others in the gills. We recommended research into the impact of physico-chemical parameters on the prevalence of parasitic isopods on fishes.