ABSTRACT

In this study, the presence of metazoan ectoparasites on 7 Cyprinus carpio and 90 Cobitis simplicispinna from Lake Aksehir, Turkey were investigated between July 2004 and June 2005. Three parasite species were identified on the host fishes: Gyrodactylus elegans Nordmann, 1832 (42.9%, 293.6±482.0 parasite/fish) and Dactylogyrus extensus Mueller and Van Cleave, 1932 (85.7%, 9.8±6.8), were found on gills of C. carpio, and Gyrodactylus cobitis Bychowsky, 1933 (68.9%, 15.6±18.5) on gills and fins of C. simplicispinna. Of these species, G. cobitis is a new record for parasite fauna of Turkey. In addition, minimum-maximum and mean intensity of parasites and infection prevalence were determined using seasonal data and size distribution of the host fish.

Keywords: Akşehir, Cobitis, Cyprinus, Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus