In this study, 2 goatfish species (P. multifasciatus and P. heptacanthus) were collected at Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay (Vietnam), and examined for parasites. So far, based on morphological features, 9 parasite species have been documented: 2 monogeneans (Haliotrema sp., Bothitrema sp.). | Journal of Fisheries science and Technology Special issue - 2015 PARASITES OF GOATFISHES (PARUPENEUS SPP.) IN KHANH HOA PROVINCE, VIETNAM, PRELIMINARY RESULTS Dang Nguyen Anh Tuan1, Tran Quang Sang1, Dang Thuy Binh1 ABSRACT Coral reefs known as high diversity of fish and other invertebrates provide ecosystem services, food to coastal populations, and potential medicinal products. Currently, research on parasitic infections in goatfishes (Parupeneus spp.) is limited. In this study, 2 goatfish species (P. multifasciatus and P. heptacanthus) were collected at Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay (Vietnam), and examined for parasites. So far, based on morphological features, 9 parasite species have been documented: 2 monogeneans (Haliotrema sp., Bothitrema sp.), 3 copepods (Caligus sp., Halectinosoma sp., Caligus quadratus), 1 isopod (Gnathia sp.), 1 nematode (Camallanus sp.) and 2 digeneans (Cholepotes sp. and Carneophallus sp.). The specimens of P. heptacanthus were most heavily infected by Haliotrema sp. and Caligus sp. with a prevalence of 100%. Cholepotes sp. and Carneophallus sp. had the lowest prevalence (). Haliotrema sp. had the highest intensity (); whereas, Cholepotes sp. and Carneophallus sp., which were found in P. multifasciatus, had the lowest value (1). The highly parasite diversity in goatfish may reflect the habitat use and diet of the fish. As important food fish in Vietnam, an in-depth study on parasite composition in goatfish remains necessary. Keywords: parasite, goatfish, Vietnam, infection I. INTRODUCTION Coral reefs are, like tropical rainforests, areas of high biodiversity (Reaka-Kudla 1997) and currently threatened (Roberts et al., 2002, Jone et al., 2004). Parasites are typically neglected in numerical evaluation of biodiversity (Whittington and Chisholm, 2003, Poulin 2004, Bouchet 2006). As an integral part of biodiversity studies, parasitology should be considered in any program for biodiversity assessment (Brooks and Hoberg, .
