Checklist of Fish Hosts of Species of Lernaea Linnaeus, 1758 (Hexanauplia: Cyclopoida: Lernaeidae) in Iraq

Surveying literature concerning the occurrence of Lernaea cyprinacea and L. oryzophila as well as some unidentified Lernaea species infecting fishes of Iraq, showed the infection of 31 fish species with L. cyprinacea, one fish species with L. oryzophila and seven fish species with unidentified Lernaea species as adults or larval stages. The infections were distributed in Tigris, Euphrates and Shatt Al-Arab rivers as well as some of their tributaries, lakes, marshes, drainage networks in addition to many fish ponds and floating cages in different parts of Iraq. The study also provided information on control methods, histopathological effects, some ecological aspects of the infection, life cycle, experimental infection, fertilization of fish ponds and effect of water pollution on the infection with L. cyprinacea. It is concluded that fail of inspection of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, while transferring to different inland waters and fish farm as well as ignoring the application of quarantine measures plaid an important role in spreading L. cyprinacea in new habitats as well as the infection of other freshwater fishes with this parasite.

LERNEOSIS EN CNESTERODON DECEMMACULATUS (CYPRINODONTIFORMES, POECILIDAE) Y OBSERVACIONES SOBRE EL EFECTO LETAL SOBRE ESPECIES HOSPEDADORAS DE PEQUEÑA TALLA

Lernaea cyprinacea es una de las especies mejor conocidas del género, con una distribución mundial, que causa lesiones en la piel de los peces de agua dulce promoviendo infecciones secundarias. El objetivo del presente estudio fue registrar a L. cyrpinacea en Cnesterodon decemmaculatus y estudiar el efecto letal de éste copépodo en una especie de hospedador de pequeña talla. Los especímenes estuvieron parasitados por hembras post-metamórficas. Las lesiones ulcerativas rápudamente se contaminaron con densos micelios de Saprolegnia sp. asociados con el ciliado peritrichido Epistylis sp. El examen histológico mostró invasión de la masa visceral el cual ejerció compression mecánica sobre el músculo, el riñón, el bazo y las gónadas. Se observó una respuesta de encapsulación fibrosa e infiltrado inflamatorio. La intensa invasión visceral de C. decemmaculatus en estados reproductivos torna al pez potencialmente susceptible a consecuencias letales con el perjuicio consecutivo a nivel poblacional.

Features of the parasitic system formation in common carp in the aquaculture of the north-eastern and eastern regions of Ukraine

The research aimed to determine the peculiarities of the formation of the parasitic system in common carp in the aquaculture of the North-Eastern and Eastern regions of Ukraine. According to the results of the research, 27 species of parasites were found in common carp (12 — protozoa, 6 — monogeneans, 3 — trematodes, 2 — cestodes, 4 — parasitic crustaceans). Three species (11.1%) of registered parasites were invasive. 22 species (81.5%) of detected common carp’s parasites develop directly and 5 (18.5%) — with the participation of definitive and intermediate hosts. 26 species (96.3%) of common carp’s parasitic fauna were found in crucian carp and 21 species (77.8%) in other coarse fish species (roach, rudd, bleak, perch). It has been established that among the protozoa, pathogens from the genera Trichodina, Chilodonella, and Ichthyophthirius were of epizootic importance for young common carp; Eimeria carpelli, Ichthyobodo necator, Myxobolus ellipsoides, and Myxobolus dogieli had relevance. The level of prevalence in common carp fingerlings during outbreaks of chylodonelosis was 72%, two-year-olds — 65%, three-year-olds — 27%, during outbreaks of ichthyoftiriosis — 45%, 56%, and 24%, respectively. Prevalence of Trichodina acuta and Trichodina nigra in common carp fingerlings was, respectively, 52% and 38%, Ichthyobodo necator — 16%, Eimeria carpelli — 22%, Myxobolus ellipsoides, and Myxobolus dogieli — 17–18%. Among the pathogens of helminthic diseases in the aquaculture, monogenetic suckers (Dactylogyrus anchoratus, Dactylogyrus extensus, Dactylogyrus vastator, Gyrodactylus cyprini, and Gyrodactylus katharineri), as well as cestodes (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Khawia sinensis) were the most epizootic significance for common carp. Prevalence of parasites from the genus Dactylogyrus reached 68–87% in fingerlings, from the genus Gyrodactylus — 21–36%. The highest level of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi infection (82%) was registered in fingerlings. The maximum prevalence of Khawia sinensis (62%) was observed in two-year-olds. Outbreaks of diseases caused by crustaceans Lernaea cyprinacea and Argulus foliaceus with a high level of prevalence have been reported in fish from fingerlings to three-year-olds. The level of prevalence of Lernaea cyprinacea was 69%, Argulus foliaceus — 22%

Features of the parasitic system formation in herbivorous fish in the aquaculture of the North-Eastern and Eastern regions of Ukraine

The research aimed to determine the peculiarities of the formation of the parasitic system in herbivorous fish in the aquaculture of the North-Eastern and Eastern regions of Ukraine. In fish farms of the North-Eastern and Eastern regions of Ukraine, 26 species of parasites were found in herbivorous fish: 19 species in the silver carp (11 — protozoa, 1 — monogeneans, 4 — trematodes, 3 — parasitic crustaceans); 18 species in the grass carp (6 — protozoa, 1 — monogeneans, 4 — trematodes, 4 — cestodes, 3 — parasitic crustaceans); and 20 species in the bighead carp (10 — protozoa, 1 — monogeneans, 4 — trematodes, 2 — cestodes, 3 — parasitic crustaceans). 11 species (42.3%) of registered parasites were invasive; 18 species (69.2%) of the detected herbivorous fish’s parasites develop directly and 8 (30.8%) — with the participation of definitive and intermediate hosts; the fish is an additional (second intermediate) host in the life cycle of 6 species (23.1%) of parasites. Outbreaks of diseases caused by parasitic protozoa from the genera Myxobolus, Cryptobia, Chilodonella, and Ichthyophthirius have been reported in both fingerlings and two-year-olds. The protozoa from the genera Ichthyobodo, Trichodina, and Trichodinella were registered en masse only in fingerlings. Pathogens from the genus Dactylogyrus were more often registered among three-year-old silver and bighead carps. Metacercariae of Ichthyocotylurus variegatus were found en masse in fingerlings of the grass carp. Posthodiplostomum cuticola larvae in unfavorable farms were found with a high level of prevalence in fish of different age groups. Thong plerocercoids were more commonly recorded in two-year-old silver and bighead carps and fingerlings of the grass carp. The highest level of cestode infection with Bothriocephalus acheilognathi was recorded in fingerlings of the grass carp. Parasitic crustaceans Sinergasilus lieni with a high level of prevalence were registered in two-year-old and three-year-old fish. Crustaceans Lernaea cyprinacea massively affected two-year-old and three-year-old fish. Pathogens from the genera Trichodina, Cryptobia, and Chilodonella, and Dactylogyrus hypophthalmichthys, Posthodiplostomum cuticola, and Sinergasilus lieni were of the greatest epizootic significance for the silver carp; for the bighead carp — from the genus Myxobolus, (especially M. pavlovskii), Chilodonella piscicola, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Dactylogyrus aristichthys, Posthodiplostomum cuticola, Diplostomum spathaceum, Digramma interrupta, and Sinergasilus lieni; for the grass carp — Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, Ichthyocotylurus variegatus, Ligula intestinalis, Sinergasilus major, Lernaea cyprinacea, Ichthyobodo necator, and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis