Occurrence, morphology and molecular characterisation of Bopyrid parasite Epipenaeon ingens Nobili, 1906 (Isopoda: Bopyridae).

Epipenaeon ingens occurs most commonly in Southeast Coast of India parasitized the penaeid shrimp. The present study provides the prevalence, morphological and molecular characterisation of E. ingens collected from the host Metapenaeopsis stridulans. In the present study highlights the significance of high prevalence and genetic diversity of E. ingens in M. stridulans. Intra specific analysis also revealed that E. ingens species detected in the present study can be easily distinguished from the other genospecies of bopyrids. Further application of this molecular tool to investigate the genetic variability among bopyrids detected in different hosts may facilitate our understanding of the significance of genetic diversity in relation to the infestation of bopyrid species in south coast of India.