Fish Parasitology: Ecology, Risk Assessment and Environmental Implications

Dear Colleagues,

Parasites play a crucial role in the ecology of fish populations and their ecosystems, with far-reaching implications for both aquatic biodiversity and human activities, such as fishery management and aquaculture. This Special Issue is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the intricate relationships between fishes, parasites, and the environment. Our primary objective is to provide a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of research that bridges the disciplines of ecology, parasitology, and environmental science. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a wide array of topics:

1. Ecological Interactions—Exploring the ecological dynamics between fish hosts and their parasites, including the impact of parasitism on hosts’ behavior, physiology, and population dynamics.
2. Risk Assessment—Assessing the potential risks posed by fish parasites to both wild and cultured fish populations, with a focus on identifying the emerging threats and potential control strategies.
3. Conservation—Discussing the conservation implications of invasive fish hosts and co-invasive parasites. The introduction of non-native fish and their parasites can have profound ecological and economic consequences, including the displacement of native species, altered community dynamics, and increased disease risks. 

We invite researchers, academicians, and practitioners to contribute original research articles to this Special Issue, which seek to enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between fishes, parasites, and the environment. We also aim to contribute to the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and the protection of fish populations worldwide.

Dr. Gustavo Viozzi
Prof. Dr. Ricardo M. Takemoto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• parasites
• fishes
• pathology
• co-invasions
• aquatic ecology