Seasonality and histopathology of Trichodina puytoraci Lom, 1962, a parasite of flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) from Tunisia

Abstract

        During a parasitological survey in Ghar El Melh Lagoon in Tunisia, 108 flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus L., 1758) were investigated for protozoan ectoparasites. Trichodina puytoraci Lom, 1962 infecting the gills of the examined fish were isolated and reported for the first time from this locality. The overall infestation prevalence and mean intensity level were 22.42 % and 70 ± 8.1 trichodinids per fish, respectively. The highest prevalence was observed in spring. The relationship between host’s size and parasite prevalence was significant. The histopathological study revealed that M. cephalus heavily infested by T. puytoraci exhibited serious lesions such as hyperplasia of the epithelial cells, fusion and necrosis of secondary lamellae.