ABSTRACT

In this study, the occurrence of helminth parasites in Vimba of Golbası Dam Lake was investigated monthly from May 2003 to April 2004. During the study, a total of 62 Vimba specimens were examined for helminth parasites. A total of 4 species of helminth parasites were found on 43 fish examined as follows: (Dactylogyrus sphyrna (Monogenea), Diplostomum sp. (Digenea), Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Cestoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda). D. sphyrna seen on gills of host fish was the dominant parasite species found in Vimba. A total of 308 parasites were recorded on 30 of the 62 fish examined (48.39%). The second dominant species was Diplostomum sp. of which 233 were found in the eye lens of 29 of the 62 hosts examined (46.77%). C. laticeps was the third dominant parasite in this study and a total of 37 parasites were recorded in 8 of 62 fish (12.90%). As to Contracaecum sp., only 4 specimens were found in 3 fish (4.84%).

Keywords: Golbası Dam Lake, Vimba, helminth, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda, Nematoda