LABORATORY INFECTION COMPARISON OF THREE CATFISH SPECIES WITH Ligictaluridus floridanus (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae)

Abstract

This study looked at the prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of the parasite Ligictaluridus floridanus (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), hybrid catfish (I. punctatus x I. furcatus), and the striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), an exotic, non-local species. The channel catfish was the most susceptible to L. floridanus infection, followed by the hybrid catfish with a 100 % prevalence. The striped catfish was the least susceptible, and although the parasite was detected once, this species does not seem susceptible to long-term infection.