Study on Internal helminth parasites in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) spawners in Southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea

This survey was done on ۳۰ Acipenser persicus spawners caught in the Southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea (Guilan Province) from April through June ۲۰۱۱-۲۰۱۳ to identify the parasitical fauna and prevalence, intensity and dominance of these parasites. On capture biometry was performed on the brood fish and all parameters were recorded. The breeders were examined for the presence of wounds and macroscopic parasites. The digestive tract of the fishes was removed and transferred to the laboratory of Parasitology of the International Sturgeon Research Institute. Parasites found were removed and stored in ۱۰% formalin solution for identification following methods used by Stoskope (۱۹۹۳). Standard statistical computations were carried out using SPSS and Excel. Four types of internal helminth parasites were identified in A.persicus brood fishes caught in each year that include, Cucullanus sphaerocephalus Rudolphi ۱۸۰۹, Skrjabinopsolus semiarmatus Molin ۱۸۵۸, Eubothrium acipenserinum Cholodkovsky ۱۹۱۸ and Leptorhynchoides plagicephalus Westrumb ۱۸۲۱. It is evident from the results obtained that Cucullanus sphaerocephalus and Skrjabinopsolus semiaramtus showed the highest prevalence and highest mean infection intensity in the Persian sturgeon breeders under study. Sum of dominance of these two parasites in ۲۰۱۱, ۲۰۱۲ and ۲۰۱۳ were ۹۸.۲%, ۹۸.۷۵% and ۹۹.۱۵%, respectively. Based on the results, More studies should be done to determinate the helminthic infestation and hazards of zoonotic diseases.

Keywords:

helminth parasites , Persian sturgeon , Acipenser persicus , Caspian Sea