Diplectanidae (Monogenea) infestations of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), from the Spanish Mediterranean area. Histopathology and population dynamics under culture conditions.

In the present study, Diplectanum laubieri was redescribed from material obtained from wild and cultured fish. The population dynamics of D. aequans and D. laubieri under culture conditions was studied. The prevalence and mean intensity (average number of worms per parasitized fish) were 80.64% and 112 for D. aequans and 67.74% and 59.61 for D. laubieri, respectively. Both Diplectanidae exhibited seasonal variations, with maximal infection levels occurring in winter, suggesting continuous parasites recruitment, and infection levels tended to increase with host age. Male hosts were more heavily infested than females. The apparent positive association between D. aequans and D. laubieri was not confirmed statistically. The Diplectanidae showed definite and different patterns of gill distribution. Histopathological gill damage mainly consisted of hyperplasia of the epithelium, fusion of branchial lamellae and the presence of hemorrhagic and inflammatory foci with leucocytic infiltration. The results demonstrated the pathological importance of both Diplectanidae for the cultivation of sea bass.