• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to develop an efficient control method for the Alella macrotrachelus parasitic cultured black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli utilizing the superior osmoregulatory ability of the host fish. The average number of the parasites on a fish was 5 worms (all female), which were attached to the cartilage of gill filament by their bulla. Morphologically, the parasite was tripartite with each length of $1822.1{\pm}521.5{\mu}m$ for the trunk $1825.0{\pm}495.8{\mu}m$ for the cephalothorax, and $134.2{\pm}43.1$ for the bulla. In histological observations, it was found that the female parasite took gill lamellae. Damage and loss of gill lamellae by the parasite caused hemorrhage and anemia in the fish. All parasites died within 48 hours by osmotic shock of freshwater or $5{\sim}15\%_{\circ}$ seawater treatment. These results suggest that Alella macrotrachelus could be controled by hyposmotic treatment.