Parasitic fauna of the spiny eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus Banks et Solander (Teleostei:Mastacembelidae) in Iran

The parasite fauna of 50 specimens of spiny eel obtained from two lakes, Zarivar (in Kurdistan province)and Parishan (in Fars province) and one river, Heleh (Booshehr province) were examined during the year2003. A total of nine parasite species were found. Gills of spiny eel were infected with Ichthyophthiriusmultifiliis, Trichodina pediculus (protozoa) and Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus (monogenea). Argulusfoliaceus and an unknown Argulus species were found on both the skin and gills of the specimens. Adultstages of Lernaea cyprinacea were observed on the skin and copepodid stage of this parasite observed on thegills (crustacean). An unknown coelozoic cestode, Polyonchobothrium sp. was recovered from the intestine,Diplostomum spathaceum (metacercaria) from the lens and Contracaecum sp. from the intestine wall of theinfected specimens. Except Contracaecum sp. (nematoda), which was reported previously, other parasiticspecies mentioned in this study are reported for the first time from Iran. General prevalence of parasiticinfection in specimens obtained from Zarivar lake is also recorded.