The Prevalence of Macroparasite Infection in the Mud Shrimp Upogebia major (De Haan, 1841) (Decapoda: Gebiidea) from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Abstract

The peculiarities of infection with the parasitic bopyrid isopods Gyge ovalis and Progebiophilus sp. and the rhizocephalan Sacculina upogebiae among the mud shrimp Upogebia major population in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) were investigated in April–November 2017. Parasites were found from spring to late autumn. The prevalence of isopod infection in U. major was 5.42%, females and males were equally infected. The prevalence of Sacculina upogebiae was 1.26%; this parasite was more common on the female hosts. Isopods were found on mud shrimp larger than 42 mm; rhizocephalan externae occurred in individuals larger than 57 mm. The highest prevalence of parasites was observed in the summer (7.44%). No cases of simultaneous infection with different species of parasites were noted in U. major.