Gill ectoparasites of the mugilidae from the Ebrié lagoon, Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Examination of 221 gills from six host species of the Mugilidae family (Mugil cephalus, M. curema, M. bananensis, Chelon dumerili, Neochelon falcipinnis and Parachelon grandisquamis) fished in Ébrié lagoon allowed the collection of 68 ectoparasites belonging to two classes: Crustacea and Monogenea. These crustacean parasites belong to the Ergasilidae family. While the Monogenes represent the Ancyrocephalidae family and are specific to the genus Ligophorus. In this study, Ergasilidae were found on the gills of N. falcipinnis, P. grandisquamis, C. dumerili, M. cephalus and M. curema. On the other hand, the Ligophorus were present only on the Neochelon falcipinnis and Chelon dumerili. It should be noted that no parasite has been observed on the gills of Mugil bananensis. The average parasite intensity is very low as well as the total abundance which gives less than two parasites per Mugilidae living in the Ébrié lagoon whether for the Ergasilidae or the Ligophorus.