Contagious infection by the rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina sp. in the grapsid crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus (De Haan)

Abstract

The prevalence of Sacculina sp. in Hemigrapsus sanguineus was examined on specimens collected at 13 sites in the Amakusa Islands and surrounding areas. The highest and lowest prevalences were 84.1 and 1.1 % in males and 83.6 and 1.0 % in females respectively. The statistical analysis of the frequency of parasites per host specimen indicates that the settlement of the parasite in the host is contagious.