OCURANCE AND INTENSITY OF PARASITES IN PIKE (ESOX LUCIUS) IN RIVER OF CHAMKHALEH

Pike (Esox lucius) of Chamkhaleh River in Langrood was studied from winter 2003 to autumn 2004. We collected 123 specimens of the fish and sent them live to the lab for examinations. Biometrical measurements, age and sex determination were conducted on the samples. The eye, skin, gill, digestive system, muscle and other organs of the specimens were examined for parasite infestation. Seven parasites: Raphidascaris acus, Cam, allanuslacustris, Diplostomum spathaceum, Tetraonchus monenteron, Triaenophorus Crassus, Corynosoma strumosoum, Lernaea sp. were found in the pikes of the Chamkhaleh River. The most prevalent parasite was R. acus (37.39%) and the least were C. strumosum and Lernaea sp. (0.81% each). The highest mean intensity of the parasites was related to T crassus (8.45 specimens) and the lowest was detected for Lernaea sp. (0.01). The highest range in parasite infection was seen for R. acus (1-45) and the lowest for Lernaea sp. with only one individual parasite. We observed seasonal, age and sex differences in infection rate with the parasites. This is the first time report of the pike as a host for C. strumosum.