First Report of Aphanurus stossichii (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from Engraulis encrasicolus on the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea, with Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Observations

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate in detail the morphological features of the digenean parasite Aphanurus stossichii isolated from the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Methods: The specimens of A. stossichii were obtained from the pharynx and stomach of the European E. encrasicolus caught by commercial fishing vessels in the Black Sea. Parasites were killed in a hot normal saline solution, preserved in to 70% ethanol for light microscopic (LM) studies, and in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for SEM. The morphological diagnostic features of A. stossichii were studied in detail under both LM and SEM. Results: The morphological characteristics of the examined adult A. stossichii specimens were found to be similar to the original descriptions describing the basic characteristics of forebody and hindbody shape, the position and shape of the vitellarium, ovary, and and testes, and the shapes of oral and ventral sucker. The measurement data for all morphological diagnostics were provided; photomicrographs of each part of the parasite were presented. Infection prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance values were 8.89%, 4.5 and 0.4, respectively. Conclusion: All available records of A. stossichii morphology are based on light microscope, this is the first study to identification the morphological features of the parasite with SEM. This research is the first on A. stossichii presence in E. encrasicolus on the Turkish Black Sea coast.

Metazoan Parasite Faunas of Three Gobiid Species (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae) Inhabiting the Lower Kizilirmak Delta in Samsun: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare metazoan parasite faunas of three gobiid fishes, Neogobius fluviatilis, Proterorhinus marmoratus, and Pomatoschistus marmoratus, inhabiting the Lower Kizilirmak Delta. METHODS: Fish specimens were caught using fishing nets and electroshock device. The fishes were transferred to the laboratory and examined under a dissecting microscope for metazoan parasites using conventional methods. The isolated parasites were fixed with 70% ethyl alcohol. The Czekanowski-Sørensen Index (ICS) was used for comparing the metazoan faunas of the three gobiid fishes. RESULTS: Overall, 13 metazoan parasite species comprising 2 monogeneans (Gyrodactylus proterorhini and Gyrodactylus sp.), 6 digenean metacercariae (Tylodelphys clavata, Diplostomum spathaceum, Apatemon gracilis, Posthodiplostomum sp., Ascocotyle sp., and Echinostoma sp.), 1 cestoda (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi), 3 nematodes (Spiroxys contortus, Eustrongylides excisus, and Contraceacum rudolphii), and 1 arthropoda Ergasilus (sieboldin) were observed. The maximum parasite diversity was found in N. fluviatilis; Po. marmoratus had significantly fewer parasitic species (4). Total parasite abundance was significantly high in Pr. marmoratus, which was infected with 9 parasite species. A closer resemblance was observed in the parasite faunas of N. fluviatilis and Pr. marmoratus (ICS=80.0%). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on metazoan parasite faunas of N. fluviatilis, Pr. marmoratus, and Po. marmoratus in Turkey.

Grillotia erinaceus (van Beneden, 1858) (Cestoda:Trypanorhyncha) from whiting in the Black Sea, with observations on seasonality and host-parasite interrelationship.

The genus Grillotia Guiart, 1927 is cosmopolitan in its distribution and the type-species, G. erinaceus (van Beneden, 1858), has been relatively well studied. However, this study provides infection indices of Grillotia erinaceus from southern and northern Black Sea whiting Merlangius merlangus for the first time. The specimens of Grillotia erinaceus were obtained from subserosa of the anterior oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca, liver, ovaries and mesenterium of whiting caught by commercial fishing vessels off Sinop, Turkey and off Balaklava, Ukraine. Fish were examined during the period from May 2011 to April 2012. Prevalence and mean intensity values in 268 fish collected off Sinop in the Black Sea were 18.66% and 1.82 ± 0.16 parasites per infected fish, respectively. In Ukrainian 166 whiting samples collected off Balaklava in the Black Sea, however, G. erinaceus plerocercus infection prevalence was 10.24% and mean intensity 1.71 ± 0.75 parasites per infected fish. Infection parameters were also determined at both sampling sites in relation with host length, sex and season.

Parasites of juvenile golden grey mullet Liza aurata Risso, 1810 in Sarikum Lagoon Lake at Sinop, Turkey.

Juvenile golden grey mullet, Liza aurata were collected from Sarikum Lagoon Lake which connected to the Black Sea at Sinop, Turkey and examined for parasitic fauna. A total of 219 fish were investigated throughout a 1-year period. Parasite species recovered were Trichodina lepsii, T. puytoraci, Gyrodactylus sp., Ligophorus cephali, Ligophorus mediterraneus, Solostamenides mugilis, Ascocotyle sp. (metacercaria) and Ergasilus lizae. Overall infection prevalence (%) and mean intensity values were 95.9% and 412.65 ± 85.31 parasites per infected fish, respectively. Infection prevalence and mean intensity values for each parasite species in relation to season and fish size were also determined and discussed. While Ligophorus cephali and L. mediterraneus are new records for Turkish parasite fauna, the juvenile Liza aurata is a new host record for Ligophorus cephali and L. mediterraneus.