Document Type : Full paper (Original article)
Authors
1
MSc in Parasitology, Department of Biology, College of Science Education, University of Salahaddin, Erbil, Iraq
2
Department of Biology, College of Science Education, University of Salahaddin, Erbil, Iraq
Abstract
A total of 128 spiny eels Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Mastacembelidae) were collected from the
Greater Zab river at Iski Kalak town, west of Erbil city, Kurdistan region, Iraq, from July 2007 to the end of
June 2008. The fish were examined for ecto and endo parasites. The study revealed the existence of 16
species of parasites (with a total prevalence of 89.06%) including: two species of protozoans (Trypanosoma
sp. and Trichodina pediculus), one species of monogenetic trematodes (Mastacembelocleidus
heteranchorus), six species of digenetic trematodes (Allocreadium transversale, Asymphylodora
macracetabulum, Pseudochetosoma salmonicola, Clinostomum complanatum, Diplostomum flexicaudum and D. spathaceum), two species of cestodes (Polyonchobothrium magnum and Ligula intestinalis), two species of nematodes (Agamospirura sp. and Procamallanus viviparus), one species of leech, crustacean and arachnoide (Cystobranchus mammillatus, Argulus foliaceus and Arrenurus sp. respectively). Five species of these parasites (T. pediculus, A. transversale, D. flexicaudum, C. mammillatus and Arrenurus sp.) were
recorded for the first time in Iraq. In addition, M. mastacembelus was regarded as a new host for A.
macracetabulum, C. complanatum and A. foliaceus.
Keywords
)