الفهرس 
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Abstract
The aim of this work was twofold, firstly to study the population characteristics of the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis inhabiting the Suez Canal Lakes (Timsah and Bitter Lakes) in terms of morphometric parameters, growth, and reproductive pattern. Secondly, to investigate the occurrence of the bitter crab disease in this species, study its relationships with the host as well as the relevant environmental parameters.
A monthly survey was carried during the period between October 2020 and September 2021. In Timsah Lake, a total of 723 individuals were sampled, they varied from 66.7 to 132.7 mm in carapace width (CW), 31.1 to 60.7 mm in carapace length (CL) and from 22 to 190 g in body weight (W). The size distribution in Timsah Lake showed that the major portion of the catch ranged of 80 to 109.9 mm carapace width. In the Bitter Lakes, the total 679 individuals varied from 62.1 to 135 mm in carapace width (CW), 29.5 to 60.3 mm in carapace length (CL) and from 22 to 165 g in body weight (W).
In Timsah Lake, the overall male: females sex ratio was 1.43: 1 while in the Bitter Lakes, the total number of females was significantly greater than the total number of males (0.9 male: 1 female). The values of the regression coefficient ”b” for the CW and W showed positive allometry or nearly isometric in males in both lakes (3.0491 and 3.2404, respectively) compared to a negative allometry for females (2.8362 and 2.9042) at Timsah Lake and the Bitter Lakes, respectively.
In both study sites, P. segnis had a prolonged breeding period detected by the presence of ovigerous females in most months with a well-.