Fish Parasites

Fish parasites are organisms, either prokaryotic or multi-cellular, that live on or within fish and feed off their host. They can be both external (ectoparasites) such as skin and gill flukes, or internal (endoparasites) such as nematodes, tapeworms and protozoans. Numerous fish parasites can cause disease in fish, leading to reduced growth, poor health and even mortality. Understanding the prevalence, biology and epidemiology of these parasites is important for the successful management and conservation of fish stocks. More broadly, parasites provide insights into the ecology of aquatic systems, and can be used as indicators of environmental health. In addition, fish parasites are targets for the development of new drugs and vaccines for the aquaculture industry.