The host: meagre, Argyrosomus regius
The disease: Sciaenocotylosis, is a disease caused by the monogenean parasite, Scianocotyle panceri. This parasite is a blood-feeding worm that infects the gills of the fish. It is highly host-specific and infects only meagre and very closely related fish species. It can propagate in very high numbers causing anemia and breathing distress to the hosts. In high numbers is lethal to the fish and extremely high mortalities have been recorded in fish farms.
Epidemiology: Sciaenocotyle panceri was first reported in the Mediterranean infecting shi drum, Umbrina cirrosa and was described as Microcotyle panceri. It is commonly found in wild fish throughout the year while in aquaculture mortalities have been recorded both in the winter and in summer months. Mortalities can be severe in older fish reaching the commercial size.
