Studies on Hatschekiasis in Some Red Sea Coral Reef Fishes at Aquarium of Hurghada Area

A total number of 77 marine fishes of 3 species represented as 23 Abu Sabib (Cheilinus lunulatus‏), 24 kosher Abu Lolo (Epinephelus fasciatus) and 30 Sigan (Siganus luridus) were collected seasonally between May 2014 and the end of April 2015 from coral reef sites along the shore of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) at Hurghada’s Red sea. They were investigated for detection of parasitic copepods. It was revealed that 31.16% of the examined marine fishes were infested. The detected species were belong to Genus Hatschekia Poche1902 from Cheilinus lunulatus‏with aprevalence78.26%, and from Siganus luridus with prevalence 20% while not detected in Epinephelus fasciatus. The total and seasonal prevalence of infestation in each fish species in relation to body weights and lengths were recorded. Besides, the histopathological alterations were studied and discussed.