PREVALENCE OF PARASITIC INFESTATION IN THE BLUE CRABPORTUNUS PELAGICUS,DAMIETTA,EGYPT,

The present study focused on parasites that infected the blue crab Portunus pelagicus. This crab is a very popular sea food for the inhabitants of the costal sea of Egypt. Samples were seasonally collected from Mediterranean Sea, Ras El Bar, Damietta, Egypt. The present study exhibited that 2 parasitic species (protozoa and larval nematode) infested the crab. The infes-tation rate varied according to the infected tissue of the host, seasons and sexes. Gills were found to be higher infected (56%) than gonads. Seasonal variation in the parasitic infection showed that the highest prevalence was during winter (37%) and summer (35%). Sex of the host crab also affected the infestation with the parasites. Male crabs were found to be higher infected (78%) than females (22%). So, the current study provides a contribution to our knowledge of the parasites that infesting one of the most important economic sea foods.