Isolation and identification of Sparicotyle chrysophrii (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) in the Mediterranean Sea, Greece

The gilthead sea bream is one of the main aquacultured fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Sparicotyle chrysophrii is an ectoparasite specific for sea bream and able to cause mortality in the Mediterranean aquaculture system. In this study, a total of 20 gilthead sea bream were sampled for parasitological research at Heraklion Bay, Crete, Greece. Gills of the fish were dissected and examined for parasites using a light microscope. S. chrysophrii was identified by field emission scanning electron microscopy, PCR and sequencing.