Occurrence of Ceratothoa capri (Trilles, 1964) in Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766) in the Libyan Coasts

Abstract

Ceratothoa is an important ectoparasite affecting many species of commercial fish. 40 individuals of wild bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (L, 1758), were collected during October and November 2022. One pullus Cetratothoa capri parasite was found inside the bluefish gill, P. saltatrix from the coasts of Libya, in the southern Mediterranean determination, the infection rate of the fish was 2.5%. This is the first study from Libya on the presence of C. capri in bluefish.