Parasites of Alien Fishes Sphyraena flavicauda and Sphyraena chrysotaenia in the Western Coast of Libya

The Mediterranean marine ecosystem is undergoing significant changes due to the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), many of which arrive via the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migration). This study investigates the parasite fauna in two alien barracuda species, Sphyraena flavicauda and Sphyraena chrysotaenia, collected from the western coast of Libya.

Key findings include:

• 46 individuals of S. flavicauda and 10 individuals of S. chrysotaenia were analyzed.
• Seven parasite species were identified across both fish species.
• The infection rate in S. flavicauda was 46%, while S. chrysotaenia had a 32% infection rate.
• Diplectanum cazauxi showed the highest prevalence (95.7%) in S. flavicauda, while Halacarus sp. was the most common in S. chrysotaenia (70%).
• The NIS monogeneans Diplectanum cazauxi and Diplectanum dunanchae were found in these fish species, suggesting that parasites may be expanding with their hosts in the Mediterranean.

Key Findings :

• Non-indigenous fish species are acting as hosts for both native and introduced parasite species.
• Potential ecosystem impact as invasive species introduce new parasite-host dynamics.
• Further monitoring is needed to understand the long-term consequences of parasite transfer on native fish species.

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