Investigation of a parasitic outbreak of Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus (Crustacea: Copepoda) in Cyprinid fish from Choghakhor lagoon

The main objectives of this study were to study the parasitic infestation of Lernaea cyprinacea in ۴ cyprinids from the Choghakhor Lagoon, Chaharmahal - Bakhtyari Province, west of Iran. A total of ۱۸۰ cyprinids including Cyprinus carpio (n=۱۰۱), Carassius auratus (n=۴۷), Capoeta aculeata (n=۱۰) and Alburnus alburnus (n=۲۲) caught, and were studied for Lernaea cyprinacea infestation. Prevalence (C. carpio ۶۱.۴, C. auratus ۸۷.۲, C. aculeata ۷۰ and A. alburnus ۶۸.۲), intensity of infection (C. carpio range ۱ to ۵, mean ۲.۱ C. auratus range ۱ to ۶, mean ۱.۹ C. aculeata range ۱ to ۵, mean ۲.۴ A. alburnus range ۱ to ۲, mean ۱.۱), and abundance (C. carpio ۱.۳, C. auratus ۱.۶, C. aculeata ۱.۷ and A. alburnus ۰.۸) varied with the fish species. A statistically significant difference was found between infestation by L. cyprinacea and fish species (p=۰.۰۱), although no statistically significant difference was found between infestation and weight, length and age of the studied fishes (p>۰.۰۵). The prevalence was also significantly different (p=۰.۰) in studying seasons. Population dynamics of L. cyprinacea on fish hosts was studied. The results show that the preferred site of the parasite was body lateral surfaces followed by caudal , dorsal , pectoral and anal fins (P=۰.۰).

Keywords:

Lernaea cyprinacea , Fish parasite , Choghakhor Lagoon , Iran