Parasitic infection in Hemiculter lucisculus, Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeatus of the Zardi River (Mazandaran)

A total of 76 specimens of three fish species including: Hemiculter lucisculus (41), Liza auratus (16) and Gasterosteus aculeutus (19) were caught using handnet from 3 station in Zardi River in the south-eastern costal of Caspian Sea at autumn and winter 2009 and spring 2010. The fishes were transported alive to the laboratory of Shahid Rajaee Site. They were killed by cutting their spinal cord and their length and weight were measured. The eye, skin, gill, digestive system, muscle and other organism's of the specimens were examined for parasite infestation. Thirteen parasites species were identified. Ichthyobodo necator was collected from skin of Hemiculter lucisculus and Liza auratus. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was collected from skin or branchia of Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Chilodonella sp. was collected from skin of Gasterosteus aculeutus, Trichodina sp. from skin and branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Tetrahymena sp. was collected from skin of Gasterosteus aculeutus, Myxobolus sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Dactylogyrus sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Gyrodactylus sp. from skin or branchia of Gasterosteus aculeutus, Discocotyle sp. and Diplozoon sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Diplostomum spathaceum from eyes of Hemiculter lucisculus, Saccocoelium obseum from intestine of Liza auratus and Corynosoma stromosum from abdominal cavity of Gasterosteus aculeutus. In present study Hemiculter lucisculus was as a new host for Ichthyobodo necator, Myxobolus sp., Discocotyle sp. and Diplozoon sp. also except Saccocoelium obseum from Liza auratus and Corynosoma stromosum from Gasterosteus aculeatus, the other parasites were reported for the first time in Iran.