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

Protozoans; (Coccidia and Myxosporea;) infections in some fishes of Aras and Mahabad Dams (Northwest of Iran)

During a protozoological study on the fishes of West-Azarbayejan province (Northwest of Iran) in 1998, three different protozoans were revealed. Myxobolus musayevi from Capoeta capoeta, Myxobolus dispar from Aspius aspius taeniatus and Goussia carpelli from Cyprinus carpio. Altogether 13 different fish specimen were examined. The fishes including: Aspius aspius taeniatus (2), Rutilus ruti/us (3), Capoeta cpoeta (2) and Cyprinus carpio (6). They were caugth from Aras and Mahabad Dams and transported alive to the laboratory where they were wieghted and measured. Then, they were examined for protozoan infections when their spinal cord was cut. Myxobolus musayevi had already reported from Capoeta capoeta from Taj an in Mazandaran province. This is the first record of Myxobolus dispar from Aspius aspius taeniatus from Iranian freshwaters. Goussia carpelli also had already recorded (unpublished) from the Cyprinus carpio from Sepeedroud River in Guilan province. In this study, three of C. carpio which were caught from Aras Dam had been infected by the oocyst of the Goussia carpelli in the mocus of the intestine

Effect of precursors on flavonoid production by Hydrocotyle bonariensis callus tissues

Callus tissue of Hydrocotyle bonariensis was initiated from the leaf of H. bonariensis treated with 2 mg/l of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg/l kinetin. The culture was kept at 25°C, under light (cool white fluorescent tubes, 1200 lux). To optimize the precursors to increase the production of flavonoid, different precursors were used. The data showed that 4 mg/l proline produced the highest flavonoid yield (10.77 ± 0.25 mg/g DW). The increase in proline concentration did not significantly increase the production of flavonoid. The highest flavonoid yield (10.59 ± 0.18 mg/g DW) was produced in 1 mg/l of glutamine. No significant increase was attained in the flavonoid yield in callus treated with 2, 3 mg/l compared with the control. Phenylalanine at the concentration of 3 mg/l, successfully triggered the production of flavonoid (11.43 ± 0.12 mg/g DW), which was 23% higher than the control. The highest flavonoid production was attained in calluses treated with 4 mg/l of naringenin; and it was 19.72% higher compared with the control.Key words: Flavonoids, cell culture, amino acid, precursor

Myxobolus spp. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidea) from fishes of the Zayandeh-rud River (Esfahan, Iran); new hosts and locality record

In a parasitic survey of the native and introduced fishes in the Zayandeh-rud River, 5 Myxobolus spp. were found in the gills, fins and skin of examined fish specimens. They include M. varicorhini from fin and M. samgoricus from skin of Capoeta damascina, M. musajevi from gills of Capoeta capoeta gracilis, Myxobolus cristatus from Capoeta aculeata, and M. saidovi from Alburnus sp. Data on the location in the hosts comparing with previous records are provided. The epidemiological importance of Myxobolus spp. in Zayandeh-rud River is also presented. In the present paper the occurrence of five Myxobolus spp. all from endemic fishes from Zayandeh-rud River (a new locality) are recorded from two new hosts; Capoeta damascina, Capoeta aculeata. M. varicorhini and M. saidovi are recorded for the first time from Iranian freshwater fishes

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

Evaluation of hydrogen peroxide effectiveness in fungal desinfection of Acipenser persicus eggs

Fungal infection during incubation of A cipenser persicus eggs claims high mortalities in the hatcheries each year. Malachite Green has been used for many years to disinfect eggs during incubation, but recent studies have shown that the compound might be toxic and potentially mutagenic. In addition, there are implications in the literature for the chemical to be teratogenic and tumor promoter in animals and humans. One of the best replacements for the chemical is Hydrogen Peroxide (H_2O_2) which has been categorized as a low priority regulation (LPR) drug by FDA. During a two year study, six experiments were carried out on the effectiveness of Malachite Green and Hydrogen Peroxide on the infected eggs of Persian sturgeon with fungi while keeping another group of the eggs as control in Yuschenkov incubators. The chemicals were applied to the eggs at a concentration of 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and 9000 ml/l. Hatching rate and number of fungal colonies weight percentage of infected to that of healthy eggs were used to assess the usefulness of the chemicals in controling the infection. The results showed that eggs treated with 1000 and 1500 ml/l of H_20_2, compared to Malachite Green and other doses of the chemicals, had higher hatching rate, and were free from fungal infections. The separation and removal of the infected eggs was also easier when H_2O_2 was used. Hence, the chemical can be introduced to the sturgeon hatcheries as an appropriate anti-fungal agent

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

The first record of Philometra rischta (Nematoda: Philometridae) in Blicca bjoerkna of Anzali wetland, Iran

The aim of the present study was to report Philometra rischta from Blicca bjoerkna from the Caspian Sea. During this study, from August (2008) to April (2009), 78 fish specimens were collected and transferred to the aquatic research laboratory of Shahid Beheshti University and were examined for parasitic infection. Parasites were fixed in formalin (10%). The parasites were indentified according to standard keys (Moravec, 1994, 1998). Prevalence (total of infected fish per total of fish) and mean intensity (number of parasite per total of infected of fish) were calculated for this parasite

Infection of Neogobius spp. with Ceratomyxa caspia in the south Caspian Sea, Mazandaran Province

Fifteen specimens of Neogobius spp. were randomely selected from the southern part of the Caspian Sea and examined in spring 2006 for parasitic infestation. The fishes were transferred alive to the laboratory, then, their weight and length were measured and after dissection were examined for different parasites. During the examinations, the tubular parts of kidney of four fishes were found to be infected with the spores of Ceratomyxa caspia. The spores were symmetrical, crescent-shaped, and had horn-like ends. The mid-region of the spore was convex while cornua was extremely narrow. Spherical polar capsules and sporoplasm occupied the convex part of the spore. Length of the spores was measured as 11.5 pm, the distance between ends of cornua was 19.51.1m, horns were about 11.511m and diameter of polar capsules was 5µm. In the infected fishes plasmodia of the parasite was not seen, due to the time of sampling. The fishes were caught at the end of the spring, when the mature plasmodia had already released the spores. This is the first report of Ceratomyxa caspia in the Southern part of the Caspian Sea