author(s)
Md. Mer Mosharraf Hossain, Jannatul Ferdoushi and Ariful Haque Rupom

abstract
Lernaea cyprinacea (Anchor worm), a parasitic cyclopoid copepod is found to parasitize in the broodstock, nursery, and culture system in the freshwater aquaculture ponds and hatchery of Jessore regions. Lernea sp. infestations found in major carps (Indian & Chinese), minor barbs, catfish and perches. Total eight hundred (800) fish of different host fish species were collected during (2016-2017); conducted gross biology (sexual dimorphism: female larger; reproductive features: gonochoric or sexual; food habits: carnivore (body fluids); reproduces at >15 C; fish are the intermediate and definitive hosts), invasion pattern (highest invasion (98%) to mosquitofish and lowest (13%) to shing) and life-cycle (metamorphism; direct life cycle can take from 18 to 25 days at 26–28°C, mature female within 24 hours released egg produce batches of up to 250 juveniles (nauplii) >25°C. But the female remains parasitic, attached to the current host or moving to another fish and adult males die within 24 hours). This study recorded highest prevalence 72% with L. cyprinacea in January to March, while the lowest prevalence (8%) recorded during April-June. Lernaea infestation includes the skin, fins, gills, and oral cavity. Fish can survive with Lernaea infestation, but chronic conditions frequently result in poor growth and fish become more susceptible to secondary infection by bacteria and fungus which ultimately kill the fish.