Dichelyne minutus Rudolphi, 1819 (Nematoda : Cucullanidae) infection in Neogobius fluviatilis and Neogobius kessleri from southern part of Caspian Sea

During a parasitological study on two Goby species, 15 Neogobius kesslerithe and 30 Neogobius fluviatilis caught in the South Caspian Sea and Tajan River (Mazandaran Province) respectively. The fish nematode Dichelyne minutus Rudalphi 1819 was isolated from 15 N kessleri and 2 N. fluviatilis. Both male and female specimen of this parasite, were observed in the intestine of 17 fishes, some of which had penetrated into the mucous membrane of the intestine. The infection rate in N. kessleri and N fluviatilis were 100% and 6.6% respectively

Occurence of Asymphylodora kubanicum in Vimba vimba (southern Caspian Sea, Iran)

During this study, 25 specimen of Vimba vimba were collected from southern Caspian Sea in spring after biometrical measurements, samples were transferred to laboratory for further pathological examinations. Observations of their intestines showed that 15 specimen (60% of total) were infected by Asymphylodora kubanicum. The intensity of infection was seven. It should be noted that there was no pathological effects on intestinal tissue

Synopsis of the parasites in Iranian freshwater fishes

Two hundred forty-seven species of parasites from Iranian freshwater fishes are presented in this synopsis. The parasites were recorded from infestations in fish from different parts of the country and summarized according to host species, organs were the parasite infestations occurred, province, faunal region and reference numbers. The following aspects of parasite infestations were also discussed: records of the most predominant parasites, the richest regions of parasite fauna, records of parasites according to province and the most severely infected fish species and finally host specificity in terms of exotic or endemic fish

Bactericidal and fungicidal activities of different crude extracts of Gelliodes carnosa (sponge, Persian Gulf)

Marine sponges which are known to own multiple functional properties have created significant interest among the researchers due to their biological activities and impending application in different industries. The aim of this study was to obtain bioactive components of sponges. Gelliodes carnosa sponge was collected from Nay Band Bay (Persian Gulf waters) and antimicrobial activities of crude extracts were explored by calculation of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) in media supplement with different concentrations of extract solutions. Seven extracts of sponge with solvents of different polarity (E1: Ethanol, E2: Methanol, E3: Acetone, E4: Ethyl acetate, E5: Chloroform, E6: Mixed (Ethanol: Ethyl acetate: Methanol 1:2:1), E7: Distilled water) were evaluated through disc diffusion assay. Different extracts inhibited the growth of bacteria (70%) more frequently compared to fungal strains (26%). Gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive (72%) to many extract compared to Gram-positive bacteria (65%). Considerable antibacterial activity was exhibited by E6 against Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 203 µg/ml), Klebsiella pneumonia (MIC: 203 µg/ml), Escherichia coli (MIC: 407 µg/ml) and Fusarium solani (MIC: 500 µg/ml). Strong antifungal activity was obtained by E4 against Fusarium sp.2, Fusarium sp.1, F. solani and Saprolegnia parasitica (MIC: 500µg/ml). This is the first report of antimicrobial and antifungal activities of G. carnosa extracts

Parasitic worm of digestive tracts of Emys orbicularis in pond culture of sturgeon fingerling in Gorgan province, Iran

During one months study on 33 digestive tracts of Emys orbicularis, caught from pond culture of sturgeon fingerling. All together, three different parasitic worms were identified. These worms belong to genera Anisakis, Camallanus and Hysterothylacium. Anisakis obtaind only from stomach tissue, Camallanus from intenstine and Hysterothylacium infected both mentioned organs. The prevalence and intensity of Anisakis, Camallanus and Hysterothylacium were 21.2%, 3.7%, 36.3%, 4.4, 15.1 and 26.0 respectively

Comparison of prevalence, mean intensity and abundance of metazoan parasites of Otolithes ruber (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) in Khozestan, Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces

This study was carried out to comparison and survey on metazoan parasites of Otolithes ruber in coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. Totally 318 fish specimens were seasonally caught by gill net, bottom trawl and hook in Khozestan, Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces from summer 2013 to spring 2014. Specimens immediately were frozen and transferred to laboratory and after measuring fish weight and length, parasitological survey conducted on external and internal organs. Totally, 20 different parasites species were observed from O. ruber in mentioned areas that some of them occurred in all three regions and the others were only in one or two areas. The results of this study showed that monogeneans and digeneans had the highest occurrence in three regions while other groups were less abundant in each area. The results of statistical analyses showed significant differences among parasites abundance in different seasons. As well as a significant differences were found between male and female and parasites abundance of Digenea in Khozestan, Monogenea and Cestoda in Hormozgan and Nematoda in Sistan and Baluchesta Provinces. The prevalence of parasites depends on environmental conditions and presence of intermediate hosts that these factors are likely to be different in the three regions

The first record of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) in chub, Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Gamasiab River, Hamedan, Iran

Pomphorhynchus laevis is a common fish parasite in Europe which has been reported from Acipenser stellatus, Barbus capito, Barbus lacerta, Barbus mursa and Onchorhynchus mykiss in Iran. In a survey on the aquaculture potential of Gamasiab River in Hamedan Province, endemic fish parasites were investigated in summer and autumn 2008. After recording biometric characteristics, common necropsy and parasitology methods were used. Live acanthocephalans were relaxed in distilled water at 4 ºC for 1 h and fixed in 10% hot buffered formalin. All specimens fixed in 10% formalin were stained with aqueous acetocarmine, dehydrated and mounted in Permount. The worms were identified using parasite identification keys. A total of 36 individuals of Chub, Squalius cephalus, were investigated and 459 individuals of Pomphorhinchus laevis were recovered from intestine of 32 fish specimens. The prevalence mean intensity and mean abundance of P. laevis were %88.9, 14.3 and 12.7, respectively. The maximum number of the parasite recorded in a five years old fish (403gr in weight) was 130 plerocercoids. Chub, Squalius cephalus, is reported for the first time as a new host record for P. laevis in Iran

Infection of the fishes with Ligula intestinalis and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Sattarkhan Dam, northwestern Iran

After an extensive fish mortality in Sattarkhan Dam, in East-Azarbaijan province during the year 2002, we collected 160 specimens of the fish Alburnus filippi and 5 specimens of the fish and Alburnoides bipunctatus to examine the cause of mortality. The samples measured biometrically an examined them for internal and external infections. We found that of the 160 specimens of Alburnus filippi, 131 (81.8%) were infected with Ligula intestinalis and 26 (16.25%) specimens were infected with Bothriocephalus acheilognathi. Of 5 specimens of Alburnoides bipunctatus, 4 (80%) were infected with Ligula intestinalis and no Bothriocephalus acheilognathi observed. This is the first report of the Ligula and Bothriocephalus parasites infecting fishes in the Sattarkhan Dam

Short communication: Monogenean species from freshwater fishes of Zanjan province, Iran

This parasitological research was conducted from September 2002 to August 2003 on the freshwater fishes in Zanjan province. Totally 155 fishes including Capoeta capoeta idellaI (91), Carassius auratus (8), Leuciscus cephalus (18), Ctenopharyngodon idella (10), Barbus lacerta (8), Allburnoides bipunctatus (10) and Alburnus filippi (10), were seined from five different stations. The fishes were transferred to Laboratory of Aquatic Organisms Research in Science Faculty of Shahid Beheshti University. The skin and gills of fishes were studied under light and stereomicroscope. The identified monogenean parasites included seven Dactylogyrus species as: D. chramuli, D. gracilis, D. Lenkorani and D. pulcher from Capoeta capoeta gracilis; D. lamellatus from Ctenopharyngodon idella; D. goktschaicus from Barbus lacerta and D. vistulae from Albunoides bipunctatus and Alburnus filippi. Various Gyrodactylus spp. from skin and gills of different fish specimens and one Paradiplozoon sp. from gill of Alburnoides bipunctatus were observed. This is the first parasitological investigation that has been done on the freshwater fishes of Zanjan province

Parasitic Infection of an Endemic Fish (Blicca bjoerkna) and an Exotic Fish (Hemiculter beucisculus) In Anzali Lagoon, Caspian Sea, Iran

Background: In Anzali Lagoon, there are some endemic and exotic fishes. The present study was conducted to compare the parasitic fauna of Blicca bjeorkna, as an endemic fish and Hemicul­ter leucisculus, as an introduced fish to the lagoon.Methods: A parasitological investigation was done on 78 specimens of B. bjoerkna and 114 of H. leu­cisculus. The fishes were collected from August 2009 to April 2010 by the electro fishing from Anzali Lagoon.Results: Eleven parasites species were found in 192 fish samples. The prevalence and mean inten­sity of parasites in each host were as follows: Parasites from B. bjorkna were Trichodina perforata (53.85%); Myxobolus musayevi (27.19%, 1±0.79); Dactylogyrus difformis (88.05%, 8±7.24) and D. sphyrna (5.18%, 0.95±0.51), Diplostomum spataceum (98.72%, 9.51±9.01), Post­hodiplostomum cuticula (15.38%, 4.25±2.5), Ripidocotyle sp. (1.28%, 2±0.74); Contracaecum osculatum (17.95%, 1.64±0.79), Philometra rischta (12.8%, 1.4±0.54), and Raphidascaris acus (1.04%, 0.03±0.26). The H. leucisculus were infected with T. perforata (27.19%), D. spataceum (7.89%, 1.33±0.54), Ps. tomentosa (7.02%, 1.62±0.49) and R. acus (0.88%, 3±0.28). B. bjoerkna was presented as a new host for M. musayevi and C. osculatum, while H. leucisculus was intro­duced as a new host for T. perforata and Ps. tomentosa.Conclusion: The prevalence of parasites was significantly more in native fish than that of exotic fish (P<0.05). This reduction in parasitic infection in H. leucisculus may be due to its immune system resistance, well adaptation to the new environment, host-specific limitation for endemic parasites and disability of introduced parasite to complete its life cycle in the new host as well