Occurrence of Caryophyllaeid parasite species (Plathelminthes) in chub, Squalis cephalus,of Serban Dam Lake, Turkey: including a new host and a new locality

Occurrence of Caryophyllaeid parasite species (Plathelminthes) in chub, Squalis cephalus,of Serban Dam Lake, Turkey: including a new host and a new locality

An examination was conducted on caryophyllaeid cestode fauna of Squalius cephalus obtained from Serban Dam Lake in Turkey between February 2009 and August 2010. At the end of the study, from the 114 S. cephalus examined, 14 host fish specimens were infected with 75 Caryophyllaeus brachycollis (prevalence 12.3% and mean parasite intensity 5.3 ± 10.0 parasites/fish) and one host fish specimen was infected with 65 Biacetabulum appendiculatum (prevalence 0.9%, 65 parasites). Infection data of the parasite species were evaluated for seasons, host fish size, and sex. The period of the study covered the four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The infection values of C. brachycollis changed according to seasonal conditions, except for fall. Prevalence of infection and mean intensity of the species were maximum in spring. Host fish specimens were divided into four groups according to their size. The occurrence of C. brachycollis was recorded in III, V and VI groups. The highest infection prevalence and mean intensity were seen in age group VI. C. brachycollis was recorded in both male and female hosts, but the occurrence of parasites was higher in females. The other species, Biacetabulum appendiculatum, was found in only one host fish specimen that belonged to group V according to its size in spring. According to the results of this study, among these species, Caryophyllaeus brachycollis is observed for the first time in Turkey, and Biacetabulum appendiculatum is a new parasite species record for S. cephalus in Turkey. Thus, a new locality and a new host fish species have been added to the geographical invasions by the two caryophyllaeid species.

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