Infection of the fishes with Ligula intestinalis and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Sattarkhan Dam, northwestern Iran

Abstract

After an extensive fish mortality in Sattarkhan Dam, in East-Azarbaijan province during the year 2002, we collected 160 specimens of the fish Alburnus filippi and 5 specimens of the fish and Alburnoides bipunctatus to examine the cause of mortality. The samples measured biometrically an examined them for internal and external infections. We found that of the 160 specimens of Alburnus filippi, 131 (81.8%) were infected with Ligula intestinalis and 26 (16.25%) specimens were infected with Bothriocephalus acheilognathi. Of 5 specimens of Alburnoides bipunctatus, 4 (80%) were infected with Ligula intestinalis and no Bothriocephalus acheilognathi observed. This is the first report of the Ligula and Bothriocephalus parasites infecting fishes in the Sattarkhan Dam.