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

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

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

Protozoan from freshwater fishes from North West of Iran

During a parasitological investigation on the fresh water fishes of North West of Iran (West Azerbaijan Province), 266 specimens of 11 fishes were examined. Fishes were collected from seven stations from Aras, Zangbar and Sarysou Rivers between summer 2001 to summer 2002. Nine protozoan species were detected; eight Cilliophora and one Rhizopoda. Cilliophora are: Chilodonella sp., Apiosoma sp.,Vorticella sp. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina perphorata, Amphileptus branchiarum, Tetrahymena pyriformis, Stylonchia pustulata, and the Rhizopoda species is Arcella vulgaris. Results show that five of those species are for the first time being reported from Iranian fresh water fishes

Reproductive biology of blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis (Forskal, 1775) in coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, Iran

A reproductive biology study of blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis (Forskal, 1775) in the northern Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, was conducted from May 2010 to October 2011. The results showed that the annual sex ratio is not M:F=1:1, with 51.9 % female. All the five stages of ovarian development of P. segnis were observed throughout the year. The size of ovigerous crabs varied from 103 to 155 mm carapace width. This crab can spawn all year round with a spawning peak in mid-winter to early of spring season. The fecundity of ovigerous crabs ranged from 521027 to 6656599 eggs, with average fecundity of 2397967 eggs. The minimum carapace width (CW) of female crabs that reach sexual maturity was 92-138 mm and the length at which 50% of all ovigerous females was 113 mm carapace width

Identification of myxozoa and protozoa parasites of Barboid fishes of water resources in Khouzestan Province

A survey on parasitic infection of Barboid fishes of Khouzestan Province in southwest Iran was conducted from spring 2002 to autumn 2004. A total of 296 specimens from five fish species were examined. The specimens were collected from five stations including Ahwaz, Golestan, Mollasani and Dez Reservoir on Karoun River and Hamidieh Reservoir and Shadegan Lagoon on Karkheh River. The fishes were transported alive to the laboratory where they measured and weighed and then killed by cutting their spinal cord. Eleven parasites were separated of which seven were identified to the species level and four to the genus level. Of the protozoans we found Ichlyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina sp., Goussia v., Balantidium sp. and of the myxozoans we observed Myxobolus persicus, Mkaruni, M nodulointestinalis, Miranicus! Mmesopotamia, Myxobolus sp., Myxidium rhodei and Myxidium pfiefferi. We reported three new parasites and eleven new hosts for Iranian freshwater fishes and three new hosts for three Myzoxoans

Histopathological evaluation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae following embryonic exposure to MgO nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes in zebrafish larvae following embryonic exposure to nanoparticles of magnesium oxide (MgONPs). The toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles is attracting increasing attention. Among these nanomaterials, MgONPs are particularly interesting as a low cost and environmentally-friendly material. Histological investigations are used as a highly sensitive method for detecting the morphological features of disease and abnormal gene function. We evaluated the histopathological changes in zebrafish larval tissues following embryonic exposure to MgONPs for a period of 4-96 h post fertilization (hpf). To this end; fixation, tissue processing, sectioning and general staining of the whole-larvae were performed. Histopathological evaluations showed some changes including psoriasis-like epithelial hyperproliferation, muscle cell degeneration, neurodegeneration in the spinal cord, swelling and edematous changes in pericardium, swelling and edematous changes in yolk sac, severe edema within the eyes, smaller retina, disruption of retinal lamination and impaired retinal differentiation. In summary, the results of this study enhance our understanding about the potential hazards of MgONPs to the environment

Survey on Myxosporean parasites in the Mazandaran and Guilan Provinces (southern part of Caspian Sea)

A parasitological survey was carried out during 1994-1996 in Mazandaran and Guilan Provinces (Caspian Sea). 159 samples from 17 different species were examined. Samples were collected from Tajan River, Anzali Lagoon and some fish farms. Immediately after caught live fish were transported to laboratory and kept in aquarium for further examination. During this study ten species of Myxosporean parasites were separated, identified and classified. This is the first report on infestation of inland fishes of Iran by these ten parasite species. Morphology of spores, development stages of plasmodia, tissue specifications and cyst production of these parasite species were investigated in the present study. Four of the Myxosporeans were identified as potential pathological hazards for three fish species. These are Myxobolus pavlovski for Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Big Head (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), M. bramae for Kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum). M.muelleri and M. ellipsoides for Cyprinids. The other six identified Myxoporid species are: Myxobolus pseudodispar, M. minutus, M. musculi, M. musayevi, M. samgoricus and Myxidium pfeifferi