Checklists of Fish Parasites of Babylon Province of Iraq ...

Checklists of Fish Parasites of Babylon Province of Iraq,Exclusive of Farm Fishes

Furhan T. Mhaisen1* & Abdul-Razzak L. Al-Rubaie2

1Tegnervägen 6B, 641 36 Katrineholm, Sweden2Department of Biological Control Technology, Al-Musaib Technical College,

Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Al-Musaib, Iraq

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract: Literature reviews of all reports concerning theparasitic fauna of fishes of Babylon province, mid Iraq(exclusive of farm fishes) showed that a total of 104 parasitespecies are so far known from 26 valid fish species investigatedfor parasitic infections. The parasitic fauna included twomastigophorans, 17 ciliophorans, three myxozoans, ninetrematodes, 47 monogeneans, eight cestodes, four nematodes,two acanthocephalans, one clam glochidium and 11 crustaceans.The infection with some trematodes and nematodes as well aswith the clam occurred with larval stages, while the remaininginfections were either with trophozoites or adult parasites.Among the inspected fishes, Planiliza abu was infected with thehighest number of parasite species (46 parasite species),followed by Carasobarbus luteus (24 species) and Arabibarbusgrypus (20 species) while three fish species (Alburnusmossulensis, Carassius auratus and Chondrostoma regium) wereinfected with only one parasite species each. The glochidiallarval form of Unio pictorum was the commonest parasitespecies as it was recorded from 19 fish species, followed byciliophorans Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Trichodinadomerguei which were reported from 16 and 15 fish hostspecies, respectively.

Keywords: Checklists, Parasites, Fishes, Babylon province, Iraq.

IntroductionBabylon province or the governorate of Babil is located in central Iraq and

shares internal boundaries with the governorates of Baghdad, Anbar, Kerbala,Najaf, Qadissiya and Wassit (Figure 1). It is located between 32° to 33.25°North latitude and 44° to 45° East longitude. It has an area of 5,119 km2, withan estimated population of 1,729,666 people in 2015. According to IAU,Babil Governorate-Wikipedia (2017), Babylon province is divided into fourdistricts: Al-Mahawil (also spelled as Al-Mahaweel), Al-Musayab (also

Vol. 2 (1): 57-110, 2018

Received Nov. 5, 2017, accepted Dec. 19, 2017

58 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie

spelled as Musayib), Hashimiya (also spelled as Al-Hashimiyah) and Hilla

(also spelled as Al-Hillah or Al-Hilla). The Euphrates river intersects the

province and splits into the Hindiyah and Hilla branches just south of the

town of Musayib (Non Governmental Organization Coordination Committee

for Iraq, 2015). A network of irrigation canals runs through the governorate,

supplying the region’s farms and orchards with water.

The parasitic fauna of wild fishes of Babylon province received relatively

a little attention from fish parasitologists in Iraq in comparison with farm

fishes of the same province (Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie, 2016b). Surveys on

parasites of wild fishes in this province included those from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Al-Sa’adi et al., 2012, 2013;

Mhaisen et al., 2015a, b, c, d, e, f), Hilla river (Herzog, 1969; Al-Zubaidy,

2007a, b, c; Hussain, 2007, 2008; Al-Zubaidy, 2009; Hussain, 2009; Al-

Musawi, 2016), Al-Mahaweel drainage collector (Kadim, 2003; Al-Zubaidy,

2009) and Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016; Al-Musawi & Al-

Rubaie, 2017).

As no previous lists concerning fish parasites of Babylon province are

available, the present article is done to gather and review the above literature

in order to give parasite-host list and host-parasite list. The aims of this article

also include updating knowledge on taxonomy and synonymy of all

concerned parasites and updating the scientific names of all infected fishes in

this province.

Sources and Methods

Twenty references (16 research papers, three unpublished M. Sc. theses

and one article in a conference) dealing with the parasites of fishes of

Babylon province were used to prepare the present checklists. Data from such

references were gathered to provide parasite-fish list and fish-parasite list

based on some electronic sites concerned with parasite classification (Global

Cestode Database, 2017; MonoDb, 2017; PESI, 2017; WoRMS, 2017) as

well as some relevant taxonomic references (Lom & Dyková, 1992; Gibson

et al., 1996; Eiras et al., 2005; Li et al., 2008; Anderson et al., 2009;

Pugachev et al., 2009; Gibbons, 2010; Amin, 2013). The layout and names of

the major taxonomic groups of the concerned parasites (phyla, classes, orders

and families) followed checklist of FAO Fisheries Technical Papers

(Kirjušina & Vismanis, 2007). For fishes, the scientific names were reported

as they appeared in their original references but then they were checked with

an account on freshwater fishes of Iraq (Coad, 2010). Fish valid names and

their authorities were corrected according to well known specialized

electronic sites (Eschmeyer, 2017; Froese & Pauly, 2017). The index-

catalogue of parasites and disease agents of fishes of Iraq (Mhaisen, 2017)

was used to show the first record of each parasite species from fishes of Iraq

Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 59

as well as the number of host fish species so far recorded for each parasite

species in the whole water bodies of Iraq.

Parasitological Investigations Achieved on Fishes of Babylon Province

The following is an account on available references concerning the

parasitic fauna of fishes (exclusive of farm fishes) of Babylon province.

These are chronologically arranged. The full details on concerned parasites in

each reference (their scientific names, hosts and cites of infection) will be

given in the subtitle of Parasite-Host List within the section of Results and

Discussion, but the brief information demonstrated here is given to indicate

the locality of fish sampled for each investigation in order to have an idea

about parasite distribution in this province.

Herzog (1969) was the first one to investigate and publish on fish parasites

of Iraq. Among the 16 freshwater fish species from different water bodies

examined by him, he reported the occurrence of a plerocercoid of

unidentified cestode from Carasobarbus luteus (reported as Barbus luteus)

from Euphrates river near Hilla city.

Kadim (2003) investigated the crustacean parasites of three fish species

from Al-Mahaweel drainage collector and detected four crustacean species

from two species of these fishes.

Al-Sa’adi (2007) investigated 24 fish species from Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city and detected 66 parasite species (three ciliophoran, two

myxozoans, seven trematodes, 36 monogeneans, seven cestodes, four

nematodes, two acanthocephalans, one bivalve and four crustaceans).

Al-Zubaidy (2007a) reported seven parasite species (two mastigophorans,

three ciliophorans and two myxozoans) from five fish species from Hilla

river.

Al-Zubaidy (2007b) reported the occurrence of five crustacean species

from five fish species collected from Hilla river.

Al-Zubaidy (2007c) reported three monogenean species from three fish

species from Hilla river.

Hussain (2007) investigated five fish species from Hilla river for

ectoparasites and detected three ciliophorans, one myxozoan, ten

monogeneans and four crustaceans.

Hussain (2008) investigated the external parasites of the mosquito fish

Gambusia holbrooki (erraneously reported as G. affinis) from Hilla river and

detected two ciliophorans and two crustacans.

Al-Zubaidy (2009) investigated different infection parameters of the

mugilid fish Planiliza abu (reported as Liza abu) from Hilla river, Al-

Mahaweel drain and Al-Furat fish farm with the nematode larvae

Contracaecum sp.


Hussain (2009) examined the mugilid fish P. abu (reported as L. abu) from

Hilla river and detected three ciliophorans, four monogeneans and two

crustaceans.

Al-Sa’adi et al. (2012) reported the first occurrence of the redbelly tilapia

Coptodon zillii (reported as Tilapia zillii) in Iraq from Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city and indicated its infection with three ciliophorans, one nematode

larva and one clam larva.

Al-Sa’adi et al. (2013) reported for the first time in Iraq the occurrence of

two monogeneans infecting seven fish species from Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city.

In a series of articles extracted from an M. Sc. thesis by Al-Sa’adi (2007)

on the parasitic fauna of fishes from Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city, three

ciliophoran and two myxozoans were reported (Mhaisen et al., 2015a) in

addition to 36 monogeneans (Mhaisen et al., 2015b), seven trematodes

(Mhaisen et al., 2015c), seven cestodes (Mhaisen et al., 2015d), four

nematodes and two acanthocephalans (Mhaisen et al., 2015e) as well as one

glochidial larva and four crustaceans (Mhaisen et al., 2015f).

Al-Musawi (2016) investigated the parasitic fauna of the mugilid fish P.

abu from Hilla river, Babil drainage network and some earthen fish ponds at

Al-Hashimiya city and detected 33 external parasite species (14 ciliophorans,

two myxozoans, two trematodes, seven monogeneans, one glochidial larva

and seven crustaceans).

Al-Musawi & Al-Rubaie (2017) reported for the first time in Iraq the

occurrence of one ciliophoran (Trichophrya sinensis) from the mugilid fish P.

abu from Babil drainage network.

Results and Discussion

Surveying literature concerning the parasites which are so far recorded

from fishes of Babylon province (exclusive of farm fishes) showed the

presence of 104 parasite species. These parasites included two

mastigophorans, 17 ciliophorans, three myxozoans, nine trematodes, 47

monogeneans, eight cestodes, four nematodes, two acanthocephalans, one

mollusc glochidium and 11 crustaceans.

Names of fish hosts are quoted as they appeared in the reviewed literature

but the valid names were updated according to Eschmeyer (2017) and Froese

& Pauly (2017). The full authority of each valid fish host is shown in Table

(1). The following is a brief account on the major groups of the parasitic

fauna of fishes of Babylon province.

Parasite-Host List Species of the parasitic fauna of fishes of Babylon province (excluding of

fishes in farms) are grouped here into ten major groups (phyla for some


species or classes for others) according to Kirjušina & Vismanis (2007). For

each major group, a list of species will be given according to their systematic

account. This will be followed by an alphabetical listing of each parasite

species in each major group. Parasite listing will include alphabetically

arranged fish hosts involved for each parasite. Finally, for each parasite

species, its first record in Iraq will be indicated and the total number of its

hosts so far recorded from fishes of Iraq will be declared depending on the

index-catalogue of parasites and disease agents of fishes of Iraq (Mhaisen,

2017) without mentioning this reference each time to economise space.

Phylum Mastigophora

The phylum Mastigophora is represented in fishes of Babylon province

with one identified species of the genus Ichthyobodo and one unidentified

species of the genus Trypanosoma as indicated below. Names of this group

were checked in accordance with Lom & Dyková (1992).

Phylum Mastigophora

Class Kinetoplastidea

Order Kinetoplastida

Family Bodonidae

Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy, 1883) Pinto, 1928

Family Trypanosomatidae

Trypanosoma sp.

Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy, 1883) Pinto, 1928 was reported as

Costia necatrix from skin and gills of Arabibarbus grypus (reported as

Barbus grypus) from Hilla river by Al-Zubaidy (2007a). The first record of

C. necatrix in Iraq was on the body of Heteropneustes fossilis from Al-Ashar

canal at Basrah (Bhatti, 1979). Seven fish host species are so far known for I.

necator in Iraq, in all of them it was referred to by its synonym C. necatrix.

Trypanosoma sp. was reported from the blood of P. abu (reported as L.

abu) from Hilla river by Al-Zubaidy (2007a). Nine specified Trypanosoma

species are so far known from fishes of Iraq in addition to unidentified

trypanosomal species from 13 fish species in fishes of Iraq.

Phylum Ciliophora

The phylum Ciliophora is represented in fishes of Babylon province with

one species each of the genera Chilodonella, Ichthyophthirius, Riboscyphidia,

Scyphidia, Tetrahymena and Trichophrya, two species of the genus

Vorticella, four species of the genus Apiosoma and five species of the genus

Trichodina as indicated below. Names and authorities of most Apiosoma

species were checked in accordance with Li et al. (2008).


Phylum Ciliophora

Class Phyllopharyngea

Order Chlamydodontida

Family Chilodonellidae

Chilodonella cyprini (Moroff, 1902) Strand, 1928

Order Endogenida

Family Trichophryidae

Trichophrya sinensis Chen, 1955

Class Oligohymenophorea

Order Hymenostomatida

Family Ichthyophthiriidae

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876

Order Peritrichida

Family Epistylididae

Apiosoma amoebae (Grenfell, 1887) Lom, 1966

Apiosoma campanulata (Timofeev, 1962) Lom, 1966

Apiosoma dallii (Zhukov, 1962) Lom, 1966

Apiosoma piscicola (Blanchard, 1885)

Family Scyphidiidae

Riboscyphidia arctica (Zhukov, 1964) Jankovski, 1985

Scyphidia globularis Solomatova, 1977

Family Vorticellidae

Vorticella costata (Sommer, 1951) Foissner, 1979

Vorticella globularia Müller, 1773

Order Mobilida

Family Trichodinidae

Trichodina borealis (Dogiel, 1940) Shul'man & Shul'man-Albova, 1953

Trichodina cottidarum Dogiel, 1948

Trichodina domerguei (Wallengren, 1897) Haider, 1964

Trichodina elegeni Shul'man-Albova, 1950

Trichodina nigra Lom, 1961

Order Tetrahymenida

Family Tetrahymenidae

Tetrahymena pyriformis (Ehrenberg, 1830) Furgason, 1940

Apiosoma amoebae (Grenfell, 1887) Lom, 1966 was reported from skin

and fins of P. abu from Hilla river by Al-Musawi (2016). This parasite was

recorded for the first time in Iraq from skin, buccal cavity and gills of

Ctenopharyngodon idella from Al-Furat fish farm, Babylon province by Ali

et al. (1989a). So far, six fish hosts are known for this parasite in Iraq.

Apiosoma campanulata (Timofeev in Shul'man, 1962) Lom, 1966 was

reported from skin and fins of P. abu from both Hilla river and Babil drainage


network by Al-Musawi (2016). This parasite was recorded for the first time in

Iraq Al-Salmany (2015) from skin of Cyprinion kais from Euphrates river at

Al-Qaim city. No more hosts are so far known for this parasite in Iraq.

Apiosoma dallii (Zhukov 1962) Lom, 1966 was reported from skin and

fins of P. abu from Hilla river by Al-Musawi (2016). This was the first record

of A. dallii in Iraq and no more hosts are so far known for this parasite in

Iraq.

Apiosoma piscicola (Blanchard, 1885) was reported from skin and fins of

P. abu from Hilla river by Al-Musawi (2016). A. piscicola was recorded for

the first time in Iraq from skin, buccal cavity and gills of C. idella, Cyprinus

carpio and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix from Al-Suwairah and Al-Latifiah

fish ponds (Ali et al., 1988b). Li et al. (2008) considered Glossatella

piscicola (Blanchard, 1885) Kahl 1933, Glossatella cyprini Šrámek-Hušek,

1953, Glossatella cylindriformis Chen, 1955 and Apiosoma magna Banina,

1968 as synonyms of A. piscicolum. According to Arthur & Te (2006), the

taxonomic status of this species, which they considered as Apiosoma

piscicolum cylindriformis (Chen 1955) Banina in Shulman, 1984 requires re-

evaluation. A. piscicola has so far 11 fish host species in Iraq.

Chilodonella cyprini (Moroff, 1902) Strand, 1928 was reported from skin,

fins and gills of P. abu by from both Hilla river and Babil drainage network

by Al-Musawi (2016). This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq

from skin, buccal cavity and gills of Mystus pelusius from Tigris river at

Baghdad (Ali et al., 1987b). So far, 11 fish host species are known for C.

cyprini in Iraq.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876 was reported from gills of

Alburnus caeruleus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of Alburnus orontis from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of

Alburnus sellal (also reported as Chalcalburnus sellal) from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of A.

grypus (also reported as B. grypus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib

city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. luteus (also reported

as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills and skin of the same fish from Hilla river (Al-

Zubaidy, 2007a), gills of Chondrostoma regium from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. zillii (also

reported as T. zillii) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Al-Sa’adi et al., 2012; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. kais from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a),

gills of C. macrostomum from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills and skin of C. carpio from Hilla

river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a), skin and gills of G. holbrooki (reported as G.


affinis) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2008), gills of Garra rufa from the


gills of Glyptothorax steindachneri from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib

city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of Leuciscus vorax (also

reported as Aspius vorax) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of M. pelusius from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) and gills of

P. abu (also reported as L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) as well as skin and gills of the same

fish from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a; Hussain, 2007, 2009; Al-Musawi,

2016) and from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). I. multifiliis was

recorded for the first time in Iraq from Planiliza subviridis (reported as Mugil

dussumieri) from Tigris river at Baghdad by Herzog (1969). It is appropriate

to mention here that Coad (2010) considered A. orontis as a synonym of A.

mossulensis. However, both Eschmeyer (2017) and Froese & Pauly (2017)

considered A. orontis as a valid species. So far, 35 fish host species are

known for I. multifiliis in Iraq.

Riboscyphidia arctica (Zhukov, 1964) Jankovski, 1985 was reported from

skin and fins of P. abu from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi (2016). This

parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq as Scyphidia arctica from skin

of both C. luteus (reported as B. luteus) and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from

a man-made lake at Al-Amiriya, Baghdad (Al-Nasiri, 2000). According to

McDonald & Margolis (1995), S. arctica is a synonym of R. arctica. So far,

four fish species are known for this parasite in Iraq, in all of them it was

referred to by its synonym S. arctica.

Scyphidia globularis Solomatova, 1977 was reported from skin and fins of

P. abu from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). This parasite was

recorded for the first time in Iraq by Al-Salmany (2015) from skin of Capoeta

trutta, C. luteus, C. macrostomum and L. vorax from Euphrates river at Al-

Qaim city. So far, five fish species are known for this parasite in Iraq.

Tetrahymena pyriformis (Ehrenberg, 1830) Furgason, 1940 was reported

from skin and fins of P. abu from Hilla river (Al-Musawi, 2016). This

parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from skin and gills of C. carpio

from the new fish farm of the Fisheries Research Center at Al-Zaafaraniya,

south of Baghdad (Sadek, 1999). So far, 14 fish host species are known for T.

pyriformis in Iraq.

Trichodina borealis (Dogiel, 1940) Shul'man & Shul'man-Albova, 1953

was reported from gills of G. holbrooki (reported as G. affinis) from Hilla

river by Hussain (2008) who gave neither description nor illustration of this

parasite. This was the first record of T. borealis in Iraq and no more hosts are

so far known for this parasite in Iraq.

Trichodina cottidarum Dogiel, 1948 was reported from gills of A. sellal


(also reported as C. sellal) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. zillii (also reported as T.

zillii) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Al-Sa’adi

et al., 2012; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. kais from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) and gills of P. abu

(also reported as L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), skin of the same fish from Hilla river

(Hussain, 2007, 2009; Al-Musawi, 2016) and from Babil drainage network

(Al-Musawi, 2016). This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from

gills of C. carpio from a manmade lake at Al-Zawraa park, Baghdad (Abdul-

Ameer, 2004). So far, 13 fish species are known as hosts for T. cottidarum in

Iraq.

Trichodina domerguei (Wallengren, 1897) Haider, 1964 was reported

from gills of A. caeruleus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of A. orontis from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of A.

sellal (also reported as C. sellal) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), skin and gills of A. grypus (reported

as B. grypus) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a), gills and skin of C. luteus

(also reported as B. luteus) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a), gills of

Carassius auratus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. zillii (also reported as T. zillii) from

the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Al-Sa’adi et al.,

2012; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. kais from the Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), skin and gills of C.

carpio from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a), gills of G. rufa from the


gills of G. steindachneri from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of H. fossilis from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of

Luciobarbus xanthopterus (also reported as Barbus xanthopterus) from the


gills of M. pelusius from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) and gills of P. abu (also reported as L. abu) from

the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,

2015a), skin and gills of the same fish from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a;

Hussain, 2007; Al-Musawi, 2016), as well as from Babil drainage network

(Al-Musawi, 2016). The first record of T. domerguei in Iraq was from eight

freshwater fish species from Tigris river, Al-Tharthar lake and fish markets in

Baghdad city (Shamsuddin et al., 1971). So far, 39 fish host species are

known for T. domerguei in Iraq which makes it the most distributed

ciliophoran species in fishes of Iraq.


Trichodina elegini Shul'man-Albova, 1950 was reported from skin and

fins of P. abu from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). This parasite

was recorded for the first time in Iraq from skin of P. abu (reported as L. abu)

from Tigris river passing through Tikreet city (Al-Nasiri & Mhaisen, 2009).

So far, six fish host species are known for T. elegini in Iraq.

Trichodina nigra Lom, 1961 was reported by gills of both C. carpio and L.

vorax (reported as A. vorax) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a) and from

gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2009). Its first

record in Iraq was from skin and gills of both C. carpio and H. molitrix from

Al-Furat fish farm (Al-Zubaidy, 1998). Nine fish host species are so far

known for T. nigra in Iraq.

Trichophrya sinensis Chen, 1955 was reported from skin and gills of P.

abu from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi & Al-Rubaie, 2017). This was

the first record of this parasite from Iraq and so far no more records are

known for T. sinensis in Iraq.

Vorticella costata Sommer, 1951 was reported from gills of P. abu from

both Hilla river and Babil drainage network by Al-Musawi (2016). This was

the first record of V. costata in Iraq and no more hosts are so far known for

this parasite in Iraq.

Vorticella globularia Muller, 1773 was reported from gills of P. abu from

both Hilla river and Babil drainage network by Al-Musawi (2016). This was

the first record of V. globularia in Iraq and no more hosts are so far known

for this parasite in Iraq.

Phylum Cnidaria- Class Myxozoa

The class Myxozoa is represented in fishes of Babylon province with three

species of Myxobolus as indicated below. It is appropriate to mention here the

Myxozoa is considered as a class within the phylum Cnidaria (WoRMS,

2017). Names of Myxobolus species and their authorities were checked with

Eiras et al. (2005).

Phylum Cnidaria

Class Myxozoa

Order Bivalvulida

Family Myxobolidae

Myxobolus dogieli Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya & Bykhovski, 1940

Myxobolus oviformis Thélohan, 1892

Myxobolus pfeifferi Thélohan, 1895

Myxobolus dogieli Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya & Bykhovski, 1940 was

reported from skin of L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) by

Hussain (2007) from Hilla river. M. dogieli was recorded for the first time in


Iraq mainly from the outer surface of heart and some specimens from liver

and ovaries of C. carpio from Tigris river at Baiji town (Abdul-Ameer,

1989). So far, nine fish host species are known for M. dogieli in Iraq.

Myxobolus oviformis Thélohan, 1892 was reported from gills of C. luteus

(also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), as well as from skin, gills, liver, spleen

and kidneys of the same fish from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a), skin, gills,

liver, spleen and kidneys of C. carpio from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a)

and from skin, gills, liver, spleen and kidneys of P. abu (reported as L. abu)

from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a). The year of authority of M. oviformis

was given as 1882 instead of 1892 in all above references. M. oviformis was

recorded for the first time in Iraq from L. vorax (reported as A. vorax),

Luciobarbus esocinus (reported as Barbus esocinus), A. grypus (reported as

B. grypus) and Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (reported as Barbus sharpeyi) by

Herzog (1969). So far, M. oviformis has 20 fish host species in Iraq.

Myxobolus pfeifferi Thélohan, 1895 was reported from gills of A. orontis

from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,

2015a), gills of A. grypus (reported as B. grypus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) as well as from skin,

gills, liver, spleen and kidneys of the same fish from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy,

2007a), gills of C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river

at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) as well as from

skin, gills, liver, spleen and kidneys of the same fish from Hilla river (Al-

Zubaidy, 2007a), gills of C. kais from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of C. macrostomum from the


skin, gills, liver, spleen and kidneys of C. carpio from Hilla river (Al-

Zubaidy, 2007a), gills of Luciobarbus barbulus (reported as Barbus

barbulus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007), gills

of L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a), gills of M. sharpeyi

(reported as B. sharpeyi) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a) and gills of P. abu (also reported as L.

abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et

al., 2015a) as well as from skin, gills, liver, spleen and kidneys of the same

fish from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007a; Al-Musawi, 2016) and from Babil

drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). It is appropriate to mention here that

Capoeta damascina was erroneously reported as a host for M. pfeifferi by

Mhaisen et al. (2015a) while the correct host was L. barbulus (reported as B.

barbulus) by Al-Sa’adi (2007). M. pfeifferi was reported for the first time in

Iraq from gills of Acanthobrama marmid from Tigris river at Mosul city

(Fattohy, 1975). So far, M. pfeifferi has 35 fish host species in Iraq which


makes it the most distributed species within the genus Myxobolus in fishes of

Iraq.

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Trematoda

The class Trematoda of the phylum Platyhelminthes is represented in

fishes of Babylon province with one species each of the genera Ascocotyle,

Aspidogaster, Asymphylotrema, Azygia, Centrocestus, Orientocreadium and

Pseudozoogonoides and two species of the genus Asymphylodora as indicated

below. For arrangement of the major taxonomic groups of trematodes,

Gibson et al. (2002), Jones et al. (2005) and Bray et al. (2008) were followed.

However, recent updates in WoRMS (2017) were also taken in consideration.

Phylum Platyhelminthes

Class Trematoda

Subclass Aspidogastrea

Superfamily Aspidogastriodea

Family Aspidogastridae

Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1835

Subclass Digenea

Superfamily Azygioidea

Family Azygiidae

Azygia lucii (Müller, 1776)

Superfamily Opisthorchioidea

Family Heterophyidae

Ascocotyle coleostoma (Looss, 1896) Looss, 1899

Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori, 1924) Price, 1932

Superfamily Monorchioidea

Family Lissorchiidae

Asymphylodora demeli Markowski, 1935

Asymphylodora markewitschi Kulakovskaya, 1947

Asymphylotrema macracetabulum (Belous, 1953) Dvorjadkin &

Besprozvanykh, 1985

Superfamily Plagiorchiioidea

Family Orientocreadiidae

Orientocreadium pseudobagri Yamaguti, 1934

Superfamily Zoogonoidea

Family Zoogonoidae

Pseudozoogonoides subaequiporus (Odhner, 1911)

Ascocotyle coleostoma (Looss, 1896) Looss, 1899 was reported as

metacercaria from gills of P. abu from both Hilla river and Babil drainage

network (Al-Musawi, 2016). A. coleostoma was recorded for the first time in


Iraq from gills of H. fossilis and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Diyala river

(Ali et al., 1986b). A. coleostoma has so far 34 fish host species in Iraq.

Aspidogaster limacoides Diesing, 1835 was reported from the intestine of

five fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015c). These fishes included A. caeruleus, C. kais, C. carpio,

L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) and M. pelusius. A.

limacoides was recorded for the first time in Iraq from the intestine of L.

vorax (reported as A. vorax), L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus)

and M. sharpeyi (reported as B. sharpeyi) from Al-Tharthar lake (Hussien &

Mahdi, 1986). A. limacoides has so far 14 fish host species in Iraq.

Asymphylodora demeli Markowski, 1935 was reported from the intestine

of three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015c). These included A. grypus (also reported as B.

grypus), C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) and C. kais. The first record of

A. demeli in Iraq was that of Al-Sa’adi (2007). A. demeli has so far five fish

host species in Iraq.

Asymphylodora markewitschi Kulakovskaya, 1947 was recorded from the

intestine of three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015c). These fishes included A. sellal (also

reported as C. sellal), A. grypus (also reported as B. grypus) and C. kais. The

first record of A. markewitschi in Iraq was that of Al-Sa’adi (2007). No more

records are so far known for this parasite in Iraq.

Asymphylotrema macracetabulum (Belous, 1953) Dvorjadkin &

Besprozvanykh, 1985 was reported as Asymphylodora macracetabulum

Belous, 1953 by Al-Sa’adi (2007) from the intestine of four fish species from

the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city. These included A. grypus (also

reported as B. grypus), C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus), C. kais and C.

carpio, but it was demonstrated later as Asymphylotrema macracetabulum

from the same above-named fish species by Mhaisen et al. (2015c) in

accordance with Dvorjadkin & Besprozvanykh (1985) who considered

Asymphylodora macracetabulum as a synonym of Asymphylotrema

macracetabulum. So far, five host species are known for this parasite in Iraq.

Azygia lucii (Müller, 1776) was recorded from the intestine of Silurus

triostegus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015c). The first record of A. lucii in Iraq was that of Al-

Sa’adi (2007). No more records are so far known for A. lucii in fishes of Iraq.

Centrocestus formosanus (Nishigori, 1924) Price, 1932 was reported as

metacercaria from gills of P. abu from both Hilla river and Babil drainage

network (Al-Musawi, 2016). This is the only report on C. formosus from

fishes of Iraq. It is appropriate to mention here that the adult stage of this

trematode was reported from the intestine of Botaurus stellaris from Al-

Hawizeh marsh, south of Iraq (Ali, 2008).


Orientocreadium pseudobagri Yamaguti, 1934 was reported from the

intestine of G. steindachneri from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015c). O. pseudobagri was reported for the

first time in Iraq from the intestine of M. sharpeyi and S. triostegus (reported

as Parasilurus triostegus) from Al-Hammar Marsh, Basrah, south of Iraq by

Al-Daraji (1986). It has so far 10 fish host species in Iraq.

Pseudozoogonoides subaequiporus (Odhner, 1911) was reported from the

intestine of G. steindachneri from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007) as Diphterostomum microacetabulum Shul’man-Albova, 1952

as demonstrated by Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya et al. (1962) but it was then

published as P. subaequiporus by Mhaisen et al. (2015c). According to Bray

& Gibson (1986), D. microacetabulum and P. microacetabulum are

synonyms of P. subaequiporus. No more records are so far known for P.

subaequiporus and Diphterostomum microacetabulum in fishes of Iraq.

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Monogenea

The class Monogenea of the phylum Platyhelminthes is represented in

fishes of Babylon province with one species each of the genera Diplozoon,

Discocotyle, Eudiplozoon, Ligophorus, Mastacembelocleidus, Microcotyle

and Octomacrum, two species of genera Thaparocleidus and Dogielius, four

species of Paradiplozoon, eight species of Gyrodactylus and 24 species of

Dactylogyrus as indicated below. Names of Gyrodactylus species and their

authorities were checked with MonoDb (2017) while those of Dactylogyrus

species were according to Gibson et al. (1996).


Class Monogenea

Order Dactylogyridea

Family Ancylodiscoididae

Thaparocleidus gomitus (Jain, 1952) Lim, 1996

Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak, 1932) Lim, 1996

Family Ancyrocephalidae

Ligophorus vanbenedenii (Parona & Perugia, 1890) Euzet & Suriano,

1977

Family Dactylogyridae

Dactylogyrus achmerowi Gusev, 1955

Dactylogyrus affinis Bychowsky, 1933

Dactylogyrus arcuatus Yamaguti, 1942

Dactylogyrus barbioides Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár,

1993

Dactylogyrus barbuli Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár, 1993

Dactylogyrus carassobarbi Gusev, Jalali & Molnár, 1993


Dactylogyrus cornu Linstow, 1878

Dactylogyrus dogieli Gusev, 1953

Dactylogyrus dulkeiti Bychowsky, 1936

Dactylogyrus elegantis Gusev, 1966

Dactylogyrus ersinensis Spasskii & Roitman, 1960

Dactylogyrus extensus Mueller & Van Cleave, 1932

Dactylogyrus inexpectatus Izjumova, in Gusev, 1955

Dactylogyrus inutilis Bychowsky, 1949

Dactylogyrus jamansajensis Osmanov, 1958

Dactylogyrus lamellatus Akhmerow, 1952

Dactylogyrus latituba Gusev, 1955

Dactylogyrus macrostomi Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár,

1993

Dactylogyrus minutus Kulwiec, 1927

Dactylogyrus pallicirrus Jalali, Papp & Molnár, 1995

Dactylogyrus pavlovskyi Bychowsky, 1949

Dactylogyrus simplex Bychowsky, 1936

Dactylogyrus vastator Nybelin, 1924

Dactylogyrus wegeneri Kulwiec, 1927

Dogielius persicus Molnár & Jalali, 1992

Dogielius planus Bychowsky, 1958

Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus (Kulkarni, 1969) Kritsky, Pandey,

Agrawal & Abdullah, 2004

Order Gyrodactylidea

Family Gyrodactylidae

Gyrodactylus baicalensis Bogolepova, 1950

Gyrodactylus derjavini Mikhailov, 1975

Gyrodactylus elegans von Nordmann, 1832

Gyrodactylus gussevi Ling, 1962

Gyrodactylus markevitschi Kulakovskaya, 1952

Gyrodactylus medius Kathariner, 1895

Gyrodactylus menschikowi Gvosdev, 1950

Gyrodactylus sprostonae Ling, 1962

Order Mazocraeidea

Family Diplozoidae

Diplozoon paradoxum von Nordmann, 1832

Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Goto, 1891) Khotenovsky, 1985

Paradiplozoon homoion (Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1959)

Paradiplozoon kasimii (Rahemo, 1980)

Paradiplozoon megan (Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1959)

Paradiplozoon vojteki (Pejěoch, 1968)

Family Discocotylidae


Discocotyle sagittata (Leuckart, 1842)

Octomacrum europaeum Roman & Bykhovskii, 1956

Family Microcotylidae

Microcotyle donavini van Beneden & Hesse, 1863

Dactylogyrus achmerowi Gusev, 1955 was reported from gills of A.

grypus (also reported as B. grypus) from Hilla river by Hussain (2007), C.

luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and L. xanthopterus (also reported

as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and from Hilla river by Hussain (2007). The

first report of D. achmerowi in Iraq was from gills of C. carpio from Al-

Wahda Fish Hatchery at Al-Suwaira and Babylon fish farm (Mhaisen et al.,

1988). Now, D. achmerowi has 14 host species in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus affinis Bychowsky, 1933 was reported from gills of two fish

species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen

et al., 2015b). These included L. barbulus (reported as B. barbulus) and L.

xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus). The first report of D. affinis

in Iraq was from gills of both L. esocinus (reported as B. esocinus) and L.

xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Dokan lake (Abdullah,

1990). So far, ten fish host species are known for D. affinis in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus arcuatus Yamaguti, 1942 was reported from gills of both C.

luteus (also reported as B. luteus) and C. kais from the Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. arcuatus was

reported for the first time in Iraq from skin, buccal cavity and gills of C.

carpio from fish ponds at Al-Suwairah and Al-Latifiyah (Salih et al., 1988).

Nine fish host species are so far known for D. arcuatus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus barbioides Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár, 1993

was reported from gills of both A. grypus (also reported as B. grypus) and L.

xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. barbioides was

reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of A. grypus (reported as B.

grypus) from Tigris river at Baiji city (Gussev et al., 1993). So far, six fish

host species are known for D. barbioides in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus barbuli Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár, 1993

was reported from gills of three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These included L.

barbulus (reported as B. barbulus), L. xanthopterus (also reported as B.

xanthopterus) and M. sharpeyi (reported as B. sharpeyi). D. barbuli was

reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of L. barbulus (reported as B.

barbulus) from Tigris river at Baiji city (Gussev et al., 1993). Six fish host

species are so far known for D. barbuli in Iraq.


Dactylogyrus carassobarbi Gusev, Jalali & Molnár, 1993 was reported

from gills of C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. carassobarbi

was reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of C. luteus (reported as B.

luteus) from Garmat Ali river, Basrah (Al-Ali, 1998). Seven fish host species

are so far known for D. carassobarbi in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus cornu Linstow, 1878 was reported from gills of four fish

species from Hilla river by Hussain (2007). These included A. grypus

(reported as B. grypus), C. macrostomum, L. xanthopterus (reported as B.

xanthopterus) and P. abu (reported as L. abu). D. cornu was reported for the

first time in Iraq from gills of five fish species from Diyala river, Baghdad

(Ali et al., 1986a). So far, 13 fish host species are known for D. cornu in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus dogieli Gusev, 1953 was reported from gills of five fish

species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Al-

Sa’adi et al., 2013; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These fishes included A. sellal

(also reported as C. sellal), C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus), C. idella, C.

kais and L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus). D. dogieli was

reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of the above-named five fish

species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). So far,

seven fish host species are known for D. dogieli in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus dulkeiti Bychowsky, 1936 was reported from gills of C.

carassius from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. dulkeiti was reported for the first time in Iraq from

gills of C. carpio from Al-Zaafaraniya fish farm (Mohammad-Ali et al.,

1999). Nine fish host species are so far known for D. dulkeiti in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus elegantis Gusev, 1966 was reported from gills of C. luteus


Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). The first record of this parasite in Iraq

was from gills of C. regium from Lesser Zab river (Abdullah, 2002). Seven

fish host species are so far known for D. elegantis in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus ersinensis Spasskii & Roitman, 1960 was reported by Al-

Zubaidy (2007c) from gills of C. carpio from Hilla river. The first record of

this parasite in Iraq was that of Al-Zubaidy (2007c). No more host species are

so far known for D. ersinensis in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus extensus Mueller & Van Cleave, 1932 was reported from

gills of nine fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These fishes included A. caeruleus, A.

orontis, A. sellal (also reported as C. sellal), C. luteus (also reported as B.

luteus), C. kais, C. carpio, L. vorax (also reported as A. vorax),

Mastacembelus mastacembelus, M. sharpeyi (reported as B. sharpeyi) and

also from gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2009;

Al-Musawi, 2016) as well as from gills of the same fish from Babil drainage


network (Al-Musawi, 2016). D. extensus was reported for the first time in

Iraq from buccal cavity and gills of C. carpio from fish ponds at Al-Suwairah

and Al-Latifiyah (Salih et al., 1988). So far, 20 fish host species are known

for D. extensus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus inexpectatus Izjumova, in Gusev, 1955 was reported from

gills of C. carassius from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. inexpectatus was reported for the first time

in Iraq from skin and gills of C. idella from fish ponds at Al-Suwairah and

Al-Latifiyah (Salih et al., 1988). Seven fish host species are so far known for

D. inexpectatus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus inutilis Bychowsky, 1949 was reported from gills of three

fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These fishes included A. grypus (also reported as B.

grypus), L. barbulus (reported as B. barbulus) and L. xanthopterus (also

reported as B. xanthopterus). D. inutilis was reported for the first time in Iraq

from gills of L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Tigris river

at Baiji city (Gussev et al., 1993). Four fish host species are so far known for

D. inutilis in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus jamansajensis Osmanov, 1958 was reported from gills of L.

xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007).

D. jamansajensis was reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of C. luteus

from a manmade lake, north of Baghdad (Ali et al., 1988a). Five fish host

species are so far known for D. jamansajensis in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus lamellatus Akhmerow, 1952 was reported from gills of C.

idella from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen

et al., 2015b). D. inexpectatus was reported for the first time in Iraq from

skin, buccal cavity and gills of C. idella from fish ponds at Al-Suwairah and

Al-Latifiyah (Salih et al., 1988). Three fish host species are so far known for

D. lamellatus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus latituba Gusev, 1955 was reported from gills of C.

macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007). D. latituba was reported for

the first time in Iraq from gills of C. macrostomum from a manmade lake,

north of Baghdad (Ali et al., 1988a). Four fish host species are so far known

for D. latituba in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus macrostomi Gusev, Ali, Abdul-Ameer, Amin & Molnár,

1993 was reported from gills of C. macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain,

2007). D. macrostomi was reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of C.

macrostomum from Tigris river at Baiji city (Gussev et al., 1993). Two fish

host species are so far known for D. macrostomi in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus minutus Kulwiec, 1927 was reported from gills of five fish


et al., 2015b). These fishes included A. orontis, A. grypus (reported as B.


grypus), C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus), C. idella and C. kais in

addition to its occurrence from gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Hilla

river (Hussain, 2009; Al-Musawi, 2016). D. minutus was reported for the first

time in Iraq (in a conference abstract) from gills of C. carpio from Tigris

river at Al-Zaafaranuiya, south of Baghdad as well as from the Euphrates

river at Al-Qadisia dam lake (Mhaisen et al., 1997), but the full paper was

published later on (Mhaisen et al., 2003). Twelve fish host species are so far

known for D. minutus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus pallicirrus Jalali, Papp & Molnár, 1995 was reported from

gills of C. macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007) with neither

authority, description nor illustrations were given. No more host species are

so far known for D. pallicirrus in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus pavlovskyi Bychowsky, 1949 was reported from gills of four

fish species: A. grypus (reported as B. grypus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and from Hilla river

(Hussain, 2007), C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates

river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b), L. barbulus

(reported as B. barbulus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) as

well as from Hilla river (Hussain, 2009). D. pavlovskyi was reported for the

first time in Iraq from gills of both A. grypus (reported as B. grypus) and M.

sharpeyi (reported as B. sharpeyi) from Tigris river at Baiji city (Gussev et

al., 1993). Eleven fish host species are so far known for D. pavlovskyi in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus simplex Bychowsky, 1936 was reported from gills of both

L. vorax (also reported as A. vorax) and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b)

and from Hilla river (Hussain, 2009). D. simplex was reported for the first

time in Iraq from gills of C. carpio from the new fish farm at Al-Zaafaraniya,

Baghdad (Sadek, 1999). Three fish host species are so far known for D.

simplex in Iraq.

Dactylogyrus vastator Nybelin, 1924 was reported from gills of A. grypus

(reported as B. grypus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from

both Hilla river and Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). D. vastator

was reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of C. macrostomum

(misspelled as C. macrostomus) from Tigris river at Baghdad (Ali et al.,

1987c). This monogenean is the most widely distributed Dactylogyrus

species in fishes of Iraq as it has so far 33 fish host species.

Dactylogyrus wegeneri Kulwiec, 1927 was reported from gills of L.

barbulus (reported as B. barbulus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. wegeneri was reported for the


first time in Iraq from gills of C. carpio from a manmade lake in Al-Zawraa

park, Baghdad (Abdul-Ameer, 2006). Two fish host species are so far known

for D. wegeneri in Iraq.

Diplozoon paradoxum von Nordmann, 1832 was reported from gills of

three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These included C. carpio, L. vorax (also

reported as A. vorax) and P. abu (reported as L. abu) in addition to its

occurrence from gills of the latter fish species from Hilla river (Al-Musawi,

2016). D. paradoxum was reported for the first time in Iraq from gills of C.

luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Al-Husainia creek (Al-Saadi, 2007). Five

fish host species are so far known for D. paradoxum in Iraq.

Discocotyle sagittata (Leuckart, 1842) was reported from gills of P. abu

from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). D. sagittata was reported

for the first time in Iraq (in a conference abstract) from gills of P. abu

(reported as L. abu) from Euphrates river at Al-Qadisia dam lake as well as

from drainage network at Al-Madaen, south Baghdad (Mhaisen et al., 1997),

but the full paper was published later on (Mhaisen et al., 2003). No more host

species are so far known for for D. sagittata in Iraq.

Dogielius persicus Molnár & Jalali, 1992 was reported from gills of three

fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These included C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus),

L. barbulus (reported as B. barbulus) and M. sharpeyi (reported as B.

sharpeyi). The first report of this monogenean in Iraq was from gills of C.

luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Greater Zab river (Abdullah, 2002). D.

persicus has so far six fish host species in Iraq.

Dogielius planus Bychowsky, 1958 was reported from gills of L. barbulus

(reported as B. barbulus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). D. planus was reported for the first time

in Iraq from gills of C. luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Darbandikhan lake

(Abdullah, 2005). So far, three fish host species are known for D. planus in

Iraq.

Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Goto, 1891) Khotenovsky, 1985 was reported

from gills of C. carpio from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). This monogenean was reported for the first

time in Iraq, as Diplozoon nipponicum Goto, 1891, from gills of C. carpio

from manmade lake near Baghdad city (Al-Nasiri, 2003). E. nipponicum and

its synonym D. nipponicum have so far four fish host species in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus baicalensis Bogolepova, 1950 was reported from gills of M.

sharpeyi (reported as B. sharpeyi) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007). G.

baicalensis was reported for the first time in Iraq from skin, buccal cavity and

gills of C. carpio from fish ponds at Al-Suwairah and Al-Latifiyah (Salih et

al., 1988). G. baicalensis has so far ten fish host species in Iraq.


Gyrodactylus derjavini Mikhailov, 1975 was reported from gills, skin and

fin of L. vorax (reported as A. vorax) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007c).

This was its first record in Iraq. No more host species are so far known for for

G. derjavini in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus elegans von Nordmann, 1832 was reported from gills of A.

orontis from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen

et al., 2015b), gills of C. macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007), gills

of C. carpio from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015b) and gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b) as

well as from both Hilla river and Babil drainage network Al-Musawi (2016).

This monogenean was reported for the first time in Iraq from both C. carpio

and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Al-Zaafaraniya and Al-Latifiya fish

fatms (Ali & Shaaban, 1984). G. elegans has so far 23 fish host species in

Iraq.

Gyrodactylus gussevi Ling, 1962 was reported from gills of H. fossilis


2015b). The first report of this monogenean in Iraq was from skin of H.

fossilis from Greater Zab river (Abdullah, 2002). H. fossilis is the only host

species so far known for G. gussevi in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus markevitschi Kulakovskaya 1952 was reported from gills of

three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These included A. grypus (reported as B.

grypus), C. kais and C. carpio. The first record of this parasite in Iraq was

from gills of C. trutta (reported as Varicorhinus trutta) from Tigris river at

Baiji town (Abdul-Ameer, 1989). So far, G. markevitschi has 11 host species

in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus medius Kathariner, 1895 was reported from gills of C. luteus


Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). G. medius was reported for the first

time in Iraq from skin and fins of C. carpio from Al-Furat fish farm (Al-

Zubaidy, 1998). Four fish host species are so far known for G. medius in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus menschikowi Gvosdev, 1950 was reported from gills and

skin of C. carpio from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007c) and skin, fins and gills

of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007c). This was

its first record in Iraq. Four host species are so far known for for G.

menschikowi in Iraq.

Gyrodactylus sprostonae Ling, 1962 was reported from gills of four fish


et al., 2015b). These included A. orontis, A. sellal (also reported as C. sellal),

C. carassius and C. kais. G. sprostonae was reported for the first time in Iraq


from skin and fins of C. carpio from Al-Furat fish farm (Al-Zubaidy, 1998).

So far, 13 fish host species are known for G. sprostonae in Iraq.

Ligophorus vanbenedenii (Parona & Perugia, 1890) Euzet & Suriano,

1977 was reported as Ancyrocephalus vanbendenii Parona & Perugia, 1890

from gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). However, it was reported later as L.

vanbenedenii by Mhaisen et al. (2015b). L. vanbenedenii was reported for the

first time in Iraq as A. vanbenedenii (in a conference abstract) from gills of C.

carpio from Tigris river at Al-Zaafaranuiya, south of Baghdad (Mhaisen et

al., 1997), but the full paper was published later on (Mhaisen et al., 2003). No

more host species are so far known for for L. vanbenedenii and its synonym

A. vanbenedenii in Iraq.

Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus (Kulkarni, 1969) Kritsky, Pandey,

Agrawal & Abdullah, 2004 was reported from gills of M. mastacembelus


2015b). The first report of this monogenean in Iraq was from gills of M.

mastacembelus from Greater Zab river (Kritsky et al., 2004). M.

mastacembelus is the only host so far known for M. heteranchorus in Iraq.

Microcotyle donavini van Beneden & Hesse, 1863 was reported from gills

of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). M. donavini was recorded for the first

time in Iraq from gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Babylon fish farm

(Ali et al., 1989b). Ten host species are so far known for this monogenean

from fishes of Iraq.

Octomacrum europaeum Roman & Bykhovskii, 1956 was reported from

gills of three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Al-Sa’adi et al., 2013; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). These included

C. kais, C. macrostomum and G. rufa. Since the first record of this parasite

(Al-Sa’adi, 2007), no more host are so far known for O. europaeum in Iraq.

Paradiplozoon homoion (Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1959) was reported

from gills of C. carpio, L. vorax (also reported as A. vorax) and L.

xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). The first record of

this parasite in Iraq was from gills of L. xanthopterus (reported as B.

xanthopterus) from Al-Husainia creek (Al-Saadi, 2007). Four host species are

so far known for P. homoion from fishes of Iraq. Paradiplozoon kasimii (Rahemo, 1980) was reported as Diplozoon kasimii

from gills of both C. macrostomum and L. xanthopterus (reported as B.

xanthopterus) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007). This parasite was recorded

for the first time in Iraq as D. kasimii from gills of C. macrostomum

(misspelled as C. macrostomus) from Tigris river in Mosul city (Fattohy,

1975) but its description was published later by Rahemo (1980).


Khotenovsky (1985) transferred D. kasimii to the genus Paradiplozoon and

considered it as a species inquirenda. So far, 13 fish host species are known

for P. kasimii and its synonym D. kasimii in Iraq.

Paradiplozoon megan (Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1959) was reported from

gills of C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at Al-

Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). The first record of this

parasite in Iraq was from gills of L. vorax (reported as A. vorax) and L.

xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Al-Husainia creek (Al-

Saadi, 2007). Three host species are so far known for P. megan from fishes of

Iraq.

Paradiplozoon vojteki (Pejěoch, 1968) was reported from gills of L. vorax

(also reported as A. vorax) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015b). The first record of this parasite in Iraq

was from gills of L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Al-

Husainia creek (Al-Saadi, 2007). Four fish host species are so far known for

P. vojteki in Iraq.

Thaparocleidus gomitus (Jain, 1952) Lim, 1996, was reported as

Ancylodiscoides gomitus Jain, 1952 from gills of S. triostegus from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). However, it was

reported later as T. gomitus by Mhaisen et al. (2015b). T. gomitus was

reported for the first time in Iraq as A. gomitus (in a conference abstract) from

gills of S. triostegus from Tigris river at Al-Zaafaranuiya, south of Baghdad

(Mhaisen et al., 1997), but the full paper was published later on (Mhaisen et

al., 2003). No more host species are so far known for for T. gomitus and its

synonym A. gomitus in Iraq.

Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak, 1932) Lim, 1996, was reported as

Ancylodiscoides vistulensis Siwak, 1932 from gills of S. triostegus from the

Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). However, it was

reported later as T. vistulensis by Mhaisen et al. (2015b). T. vistulensis was

reported for the first time in Iraq by its synonym (Ancylodiscoides vistulensis)

from gills of S. triostegus from Tigris river at Baiji city (Abdul-Ameer,

1989). Nine fish host species are known for T. vistulensis and its synonym A.

vistulensis in Iraq.

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Cestoda

The class Cestoda of the phylum Platyhelminthes is represented in fishes

of Babylon province with one species of the genera Caryophyllaeus,

Glanitaenia, Monobothrium, Neogryporhynchus, Polyonchobothrium and

Schyzocotyle, two species of the genus Senga in addition to unidentified

species of the genus Diphyllobothrium as indicated below. Names of all

cestodes followed Global Cestode Database (2017).



Class Cestoda

Order Caryophyllidea

Family Caryophyllaeidae

Caryophyllaeus auriculatus (Kulakovskaya, 1961) Scholz, Oros,

Choudhury, Brabec & Waeschenbach, 2015

Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas, 1781) Mueller, 1787

Order Bothriocephalidea

Family Bothriocephalidae

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) Brabec, Waeschenbach,

Scholz, Littlewood & Kuchta, 2015

Senga magna (Zmeev, 1936) Protasova, 1977

Senga ophiocephalina (Tseng, 1933) Dollfus, 1934

Order Diphyllobothriidea

Family Diphyllobothriidae

Diphyllobothrium sp.

Order Cyclopgyllidea

Family Dilepididae

Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus (Wedl, 1855) Baer & Bona, 1960

Order Proteocephalidea

Family Proteocephalidae

Glanitaenia osculata (Goeze, 1782) de Chambrier, Zehnder, Vaucher &

Mariaux, 2004

Caryophyllaeus auriculatus (Kulakovskaya, 1961) Scholz, Oros,

Choudhury, Brabec & Waeschenbach, 2015 was reported as Monobothrium

auriculatum Kulakowskaya, 1961 from the intestine of L. xanthopterus (also

reported as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015d). According to Global Cestode Database

(2017), M. auriculatum is considered as a synonym of C. auriculatus. The

first record of this cestode in Iraq was that of Al-Sa’adi (2007). C. auriculatus

and its synonym M. auriculatum have so far four fish host species in Iraq.

Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas, 1781) Mueller, 1787 was recorded from

the intestine of L. barbulus (reported as B. barbulus) from the Euphrates river

at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015d). The first report of

this parasite in Iraq was from the intestine and body cavity of A. caeruleus

and L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) from Al-Tharthar lake (Al-

Saadi, 1986). So far, six fish host species are known for C. laticeps in Iraq.

Diphyllobothrium sp. plerocercoids were detected from the stomach wall

of C. luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Euphrates river at Hilla city (Herzog,

1969). It is reliable to state here that plerocercoids of this cestode were also

detected from the same fish from Tigris river at Amarah city as well as from


A. grypus (reported as B. grypus) and L. xanthopterus (reported as B.

xanthopterus) from different stations in Iraq (Herzog, 1969). No more records

in Iraq on unidentified Diphyllobothrium sp. However, Ali et al. (1987d)

reported plerocercoids of D. latum from the outer surface of Acanthobrama

centisquama from Tigris river at Baghdad. D. latum has so far four fish

species in Iraq.

Glanitaenia osculata (Goeze, 1782) de Chambrier, Zehnder, Vaucher &

Mariaux, 2004 was recorded as Proteocephalus osculatus Goeze, 1782 from

the intestine of S. triostegus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007) but it was then published as G. osculata from the same fish

species by Mhaisen et al. (2015d). According to Global Cestode Database

(2017), P. osculatus is considered as a synonym of G. osculata. The first

report of this cestode (as P. osculatus) in Iraq was from the intestine of L.

vorax (reported as A. vorax) from Al-Tharthar lake (Al-Saadi, 1986). So far,

G. osculata and its synonym (P. osculatus) have eight fish host species in

Iraq.

Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus (Wedl, 1855) Baer & Bona, 1960 was

recorded as a larval stage (metacestode) from the intestine of M. sharpeyi

(also reported as B. sharpeyi from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015d). This cestode was firstly reported from

Iraq as Gryporhynchus cheilancristrotus Wedl, 1855 from the intestine of P.

abu (reported as L. abu) from Diyala river (Ali et al., 1987a). Four host

species in Iraq are so far known for N. cheilancristrotus and its synonym G.

cheilancristrotus.

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) Brabec, Waeschenbach,

Scholz, Littlewood & Kuchta, 2015 was recorded as Bothriocephalus

acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 from the intestine of both C. luteus (also

reported as B. luteus) and L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus)


2015d). The first report of this cestode (as B. gowkongensis which is also a

synonym of B. acheilognathi) in Iraq was from the intestine of C. carpio from

some fish ponds near Baghdad (Khalifa, 1986). According to Global Cestode

Database (2017), both B. acheilognathi and B. gowkongensis are considered

as synonyms of S. acheilognathi. Twenty-one host species in Iraq are so far

known for S. acheilognathi and three of its synonyms (B. acheilognathi, B.

gowkongensis and B. opsariichthydis) in Iraq.

Senga magna (Zmeev, 1936) Protasova, 1977 was recorded from the

intestine of M. mastacembelus as Polyonchobothrium magnum Zmeev, 1936

from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007) but it was then

published by Mhaisen et al. (2015d) as S. magna. The first report of this

cestode (as P. magnum) in Iraq was from the intestine of C. macrostomum


from manmade lakes, north of Baghdad (Ali et al., 1988a). Four host species

are so far known for S. magna and its synonym P. magnum in Iraq.

Senga ophiocephalina (Tseng, 1933) Dollfus, 1934 was recorded from the

intestine of M. mastacembelus as Polyoncgobothrium ophiocephalina Tseng,

1933 from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007) but it was

then published by Mhaisen et al. (2015d) as S. ophiocephalina. According to

Global Cestode Database (2017), S. ophiocephalina is the valid species. No

more records in Iraq are so far known for S. ophiocephalina and its synonym

P. ophiocephalus.

Phylum Nematoda The phylum Nematoda is represented in fishes of Babylon province with

one species each of the genera Camallanus and Rhabdochona in addition to

unidentified species of the genera Contracaecum and Rhabdochona as

indicated below. Anderson et al. (2009) and Gibbons (2010) were used to

check names and authorities of these nematodes.

Phylum Nematoda

Class Secernentea

Superfamily Ascaridoidea

Family Anisakidae

Contracaecum sp.

Superfamily Camallanoidea

Family Camallanidae

Camallanus lacustris (Zoega, 1776) Railliet & Henry, 1915

Superfamily Dracunculoidea

Family Philometridae

Philometra sp.

Superfamily Thelazioidea

Family Rhabdochonidae

Rhabdochona (R.) denudata (Dujardin, 1845) Railliet & Henry, 1915

Camallanus lacustris (Zoega, 1776) Railliet & Henry, 1915 was reported

from the intestine of three fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib

city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e). These included A. orontis, G.

steindachneri and M. pelusius. C. lacustris was reported for the first time in

Iraq from the intestine of L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus) by

Asmar et al. (1999). Four host species are so far known for this nematode in

Iraq.

Contracaecum spp. was reported as third larval stage encysted in the

intestine of A. orontis from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e), intestine of A. grypus (also reported as B.


grypus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015e), intestine of C. luteus (also reported as B. luteus) from


2015e), body cavity and mesentries of C. zillii (also reported as T. zillii) from

the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Al-Sa’adi et al.,

2012; Mhaisen et al., 2015e), intestine of L. vorax (also reported as A. vorax)


2015e), intestine of L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) from


2015e), intestine of M. mastacembelus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib

city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e), intestine of M. pelusius from


2015e), stomach, intestine, liver, heart, and gonads of P. abu (reported as L.

abu) from Hilla river and Al-Mahaweel drain (Al-Zubaidy, 2009) and

intestine of S. triostegus from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e). Contracaecum spp. larvae were

recorded for the first time in Iraq from ten fish species from different inland

waters of Iraq (Herzog, 1969). So far, a total of 40 fish host species are

known for Contracaecum spp. larvae in Iraq.

Philometra sp. was reported from the intestine of A. sellal (also reported as

C. sellal) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015e). The first Philometra species reported from fishes of

Iraq was P. abdominalis from body cavity of A. grypus (reported as B.

grypus) from Diyala river (Ali et al., 1987a). So far, ten identified Philometra

species as well as some unspecified Philometra species from ten fish host

species are known from fishes of Iraq.

Rhabdochona (R.) denudata (Dujardin, 1845) Railliet & Henry, 1915 was

reported from the intestine of both A. grypus (also reported as B. grypus) and

L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) from the Euphrates river at

Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e). This nematode was

recorded for the first time in Iraq from the intestine of both C. luteus

(reported as B. luteus) and C. macrostomum from surroundings of Baghdad

(Moravec et al., 1991). This nematode together with its synonym R.

mesopotamica by Rahemo & Kasim (1979) has so far ten fish host species in

Iraq.

Phylum Acanthocephala

The phylum Acanthocephala is represented in fishes of Babylon province

with one species each of the genera Neoechinorhynchus and Paulisentis as

indicated below. Names and authorities of the concerned acanthocephalans

were checked in accordance with Amin (2013).


Phylum Acanthocephala

Class Eoacanthocephala

Order Neoechinorhynchida

Family Neoechinorhynchidae

Neoechinorhynchus (N.) iraqensis Amin, Al-Sady, Mhaisen & Bassat,

2001

Paulisentis fractus Van Cleave & Bangham, 1949

Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis was reported from the intestine of P. abu

(reported as Liza abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015e). Mhaisen (2002), gave the story of this

acanthocephalan in Iraq which was misidentified as Neoechinorhynchus

agilis from P. abu (reported as Mugil hishni) from Shatt Al-Arab river,

Basrah firstly by Habash & Daoud (1979) and then was described as a new

species from the intestine of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Euphrates river

near Al-Faluja barrage (Amin et al., 2001). N. iraqensis and the misidentified

N. agilis have so far 24 fish host species in Iraq.

Paulisentis fractus was reported from the intestine of P. abu (reported as

L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen

et al., 2015e). The first record of P. fractus in Iraq was from the intestine of

P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Garmat Ali river, Basrah (Abdul-Rahman,

1999). Three fish host species are so far known for P. fractus in Iraq.

Phylum Mollusca- Class Bivalvia

The phylum Mollusca is represented in fishes of Babylon province with

the glochidial larval stage of one species of the genus Unio as indicated

below.

Phylum Mollusca

Class Bivalvia

Order Unionida

Family Unionidae

Unio pictorum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Unio pictorum (Linnaeus, 1758) was reported as a glochidium larva from

gills of 19 fish species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi,

2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015f). These fishes included: A. caeruleus, A. orontis,

A. sellal (also reported as C. sellal), A. grypus (also reported as B. grypus), C.

luteus (also reported as B. luteus), C. zillii (also reported as T. zillii), C. kais,

C. macrostomum, G. rufa, G. steindachneri, H. fossilis, L. vorax (also

reported as A. vorax), L. barbulus (also reported as B. barbulus), L.

xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus), M. mastacembelus, M.


sharpeyi (also reported as B. sharpeyi), M. pelusius, P. abu (also reported as

L. abu) and S. triostegus. In addition, this larva was also recorded from gills

of C. zillii (also reported as T. zillii) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib

city (Al-Sa’adi et al., 2012) and from gills of P. abu from Hilla river (Al-

Musawi, 2016). The first report of glochidial larvae of U. pictorum in Iraq

was from gills of eight fish species which were A. grypus (reported as B.

grypus), C. luteus (reported as B. luteus), C. regium, C. carpio, L. vorax

(reported as A. vorax), L. xanthopterus (reported as B. xanthopterus), M.

pelusius and P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Diyala river (Ali et al., 1987a).

It is appropriate to mention here that the authority of U. pictorum was

erroneously stated as Zhadin, 1938 in most Iraqi literature. U. pictorum has so

far 31 fish host species in Iraq.

Phylum Arthropoda- Subphylum Crustacea

The subphylum Crustacea of the phylum Arthropoda is represented in

fishes of Babylon province with one species each of the genera

Dermoergasilus, Lamproglena, Lernaea, Livoneca and Paraergasilus, two

species of Argulus and four species of Ergasilus as indicated below. Due to

recent changes in some crustacean ranks, WoRMS (2017) was followed to

arrange the concerned taxonomic groups of the subphylum Crustacea of this

phylum down to the scientific names.

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum Crustacea

Class Ichthyostraca

Order Arguloida

Family Argulidae

Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) Jurine, 1806

Argulus japonicus Thiele, 1900

Class Hexanauplia

Order Poecilostomatoida

Family Ergasilidae

Dermoergasilus varicoleus Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992 Ergasilus barbi Rahemo, 1982 Ergasilus mosulensis Rahemo, 1982 Ergasilus peregrinus Heller, 1865 Ergasilus sieboldi von Nordmann, 1832 Paraergasilus inflatus Ho, Khamees & Mhaisen, 1996

Family Lernaeidae

Lamproglena pulchella von Nordmann, 1832

Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758

Class Malacostraca


Order Isopoda

Family Cymothoidae

Ichthyoxenos amurensis (Gerstfeldt, 1858) Herklots, 1870

Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) Jurine, 1806 was reported from gills of

four fish species: C. luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Hilla river (Al-

Zubaidy, 2007b), gills of C. macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007),

C. carpio from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b) and P. abu (also reported as

L. abu) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b) and from gills of the latter fish

species from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). This crustacean was

reported for the first time in Iraq from both C. luteus (reported as B. luteus)

and C. carpio from Al-Habbaniyah lake (Herzog, 1969). A. foliaceus is a

common fish louse in some farm fishes as well as in some inland waters in

Iraq and it has so far 16 fish host species in Iraq.

Argulus japonicus Thiele, 1900 was reported from skin at the base of fins,

around the operculum and gills of L. vorax (reported as A. vorax) from Hilla

river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b). The first record of A. japonicus was from gills of

S. glanis from Tigris river at Mosul city (Al-Niaeemi, 1997). A. japonicus has

so far three fish host species in Iraq. Dermoergasilus varicoleus Ho, Jayarajan & Radhakrishnan, 1992 was

reported from gills of Alburnus mossulensis (reported as A. capito from Al-

Mahaweel drainage collector (Kadim, 2003) and gills of P. abu (also reported

as L. abu) from Al-Mahaweel drainage collector (Kadim, 2003) and from

Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). The first record of D. varicoleus

in Iraq was from gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Shatt Al-Arab river

at Basrah (Khamees & Mhaisen, 1995). D. varicoleus has so far nine fish host

species in Iraq.

Ergasilus barbi Rahemo, 1982 was reported from gills of P. abu (also

reported as L. abu) from Al-Mahaweel drainage collector (Kadim, 2003) and

from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). E. barbi was described as a

new species from A. grypus (reported as B. grypus) from Tigris river at Mosul

city (Fattohy, 1975) and published later by Rahemo (1982). It has so far 14

fish host species in Iraq.

Ergasilus mosulensis Rahemo, 1982 was reported from gills of G.

steindachneri from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007;

Mhaisen et al., 2015f) as well as from gills of P. abu (also reported as L. abu)

from Al-Mahaweel drainage collector (Kadim, 2003), Hilla river (Hussain,

2007) and from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). This crustacean

was described as a new species from P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Tigris

river at Mosul city (Fattohy, 1975) and published later by Rahemo (1982). It

has so far 24 fish host species in Iraq.

Ergasilus peregrinus Heller, 1865 was reported from gills of three fish



et al., 2015f): These fishes included C. luteus (reported as B. luteus), G.

steindachneri and P. abu (reported as L. abu). The first record of E.

peregrinus in Iraq was from gills of both L. vorax (reported as A. vorax) and

P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Tigris river at Baiji town by Abdul-Ameer

(1989). E. peregrinus has so far nine fish host species in Iraq. Ergasilus sieboldi von Nordmann, 1832 was reported from gills of A.

grypus (reported as B. grypus) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b), gills of

C. luteus (reported as B. luteus) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b), gills of

C. carpio, from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b) as well as from gills of P.

abu (also reported as L. abu) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015f), from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b;

Hussain, 2007) and from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). E.

sieboldi was recorded for the first time in Iraq from gills of L. vorax (reported

as A. vorax) from Al-Habbaniya lake (Herzog, 1969). It has so far 26 fish

host species in Iraq.

Ichthyoxenos amurensis (Gerstfeldt, 1858) Herklots, 1870 was reported as

Livoneca amurensis from skin, fins and gills of G. holbrooki (reported as G.

affinis) from Hilla river by Hussain (2008) who provided neither description

nor illustrations for this isopod. This is the only report on I. amurensis from

fishes of Iraq. Lamproglena pulchella von Nordmann, 1832 was reported from gills of L.

vorax (reported as A. vorax) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-

Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015f) and gills of P. abu from Babil drainage

network (Al-Musawi, 2016). L. pulchella was firstly reported from Iraq from

gills of both C. regium and C. trutta (reported as V. trutta) from Tigris river

at Mosul city (Rahemo, 1977). So far, L. pulchella has 20 fish host species in

Iraq.

Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758 was reported from skin of A. grypus

(reported as B. grypus) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007), skin of C.

macrostomum from Hilla river (Hussain, 2007), skin of C. carpio from Hilla

river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b), skin and gills of G. holbrooki (reported as G.

affinis) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2008) as well as from skin of P. abu

(reported as L. abu) from Hilla river (Al-Zubaidy, 2007b) and from gills of

the same fish species from Babil drainage network (Al-Musawi, 2016). L.

cyprinacea was reported for the first time in Iraq from seven fish species

from Al-Zaafaraniya fish culture station, Baghdad (Al-Hamed & Hermiz,

1973). It is the commonest crustacean parasite among fishes of Iraq as it has

so far 31 host species in different fish farms and hatcheries as well as in

various inland waters of Iraq.

Paraergasilus inflatus Ho, Khamees & Mhaisen, 1996 was reported from

gills of P. abu (reported as L. abu) from Al-Mahaweel drainage collector


(Kadim, 2003) and from Hilla river (Hussain, 2008, 2009). P. inflatus was

described as a new species from gill rackers of P. abu (reported as L. abu)

from Shatt Al-Arab river by Ho et al. (1996). It has so far seven fish host

species in Iraq.

Host-Parasite List

Names of all fish host species infected with parasites in Babylon province

(26 valid fish names, 10 synonyms and one misidentification) are

alphabetically arranged in the following list. The full authorities of the valid

fish species and their orders and families are shown in Table (1). For each

valid host species, parasite species are alphabetically arranged according to

the sequence of their major groups which were demonstrated above. The

present host list includes the valid as well as the synonymous fish names. For

fishes, the scientific names were reported as they appeared in their original

references but they were then checked with an account on freshwater fishes

of Iraq (Coad, 2010). As indicated earlier in the section of Sources and

Methods, fish valid scientific names were checked according to Coad (2010)

and their authorities were corrected according to Eschmeyer (2017) and

Froese & Pauly (2017).

Alburnus caeruleus

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.

Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus.

Mollusca: Unio pictorum.

Alburnus capito: See Alburnus mossulensis

Alburnus mossulensis (reported as Alburnus capito)

Crustacea: Dermoergasilus varicoleus.

Alburnus orontis


Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus, D. minutus, Gyrodactylus elegans, G.

sprostonae.

Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris, Contracaecum sp.


Alburnus sellal (also reported as Chalcalburnus sellal)

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina cottidarum, T. domerguei.

Trematoda: Asymphylodora markewitschi.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dogieli, D. extensus, Gyrodactylus sprostonae


Nematoda: Philometra sp.


Arabibarbus grypus (reported as Barbus grypus)

Mastigophora: Ichthyobodo necator.



Trematoda: Asymphylodora demeli, A. markewitschi, Asymphylotrema

macracetabulum.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus achmerowi, D. barbioides, D. cornu, D. inutilis,

D. minutus, D. pavlovskyi, D. vastator, Gyrodactylus markevitschi.

Nematoda: Contracaecum sp., Rhabdochona denudata.


Crustacea: Ergasilus sieboldi, Lernaea cyprinacea.

Aspius vorax: See Leuciscus vorax

Barbus barbulus: See Luciobarbus barbulus

Barbus grypus: See Arabibarbus grypus

Barbus luteus: See Carasobarbus luteus

Barbus sharpeyi: See Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi

Barbus xanthopterus: See Luciobarbus xanthopterus

Carasobarbus luteus (reported also as Barbus luteus) Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.

Myxozoa: Myxobolus oviformis, M. pfeifferi.

Trematoda: Asymphylodora demeli, Asymphylotrema macracetabulum.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus achmerowi, D. arcuatus, D. carassobarbi, D.

dogieli, D. elegantis, D. extensus, D. minutus, D. pavlovskyi, Dogielius

persicus, Gyrodactylus medius, Paradiplozoon megan.

Cestoda: Diphyllobothrium sp., Schyzocotyle acheilognathi.

Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.


Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus, Ergasilus peregrinus, E. sieboldi.

Carassius auratus

Ciliophora: Trichodina domerguei.

Carassius carassius

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dulkeiti, D. inexpectatus, Gyrodactylus

sprostonae.


Chalcalburnus sellal: See Alburnus sellal

Chondrostoma regium

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Coptodon zillii (reported as Tilapia zillii)




Ctenopharyngodon idella

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dogieli, D. lamellatus, D. minutus.

Cyprinion kais



Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides, Asymphylodora demeli, A.

markewitschi, Asymphylotrema macracetabulum.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus arcuatus, D. dogieli, D extensus, D. minutus,

Gyrodactylus markevitschi, G. sprostonae, Octomacrum europaeum.


Cyprinion macrostomum

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.


Monogenea: Dactylogyrus cornu, D. latituba, D. macrostomi, D. pallicirrus,

Gyrodactylus elegans, Octomacrum europaeum, Paradiplozoon kasimii.


Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus Lernaea cyprinacea.

Cyprinus carpio

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei, T. nigra.


Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides, Asymphylotrema macracetabulum.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus ersinensis, D. extensus, Diplozoon paradoxum,

Eudiplozoon nipponicum, Gyrodactylus elegans, G. markevitschi, G.

menschikowi, Paradiplozoon homoion.

Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus, Ergasilus sieboldi, Lernaea cyprinacea.

Gambusia affinis: See Gambusia holbrooki

Gambusia holbrooki (reported as G. affinis)

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina borealis.

Crustacea: Ichthyoxenos amurensis, Lernaea cyprinacea.


Garra rufa


Monogenea: Octomacrum europaeum.


Glyptothorax steindachneri


Trematoda: Orientocreadium pseudobagri, Pseudozoogonoides

subaequiporus.

Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris.


Crustacea: Ergasilus mosulensis, E. peregrinus.

Heteropneustes fossilis


Monogenea: Gyrodactylus gussevi.


Leuciscus vorax (reported also as Aspius vorax)

Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina nigra.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus, D. simplex, Diplozoon paradoxum,

Gyrodactylus derjavini, Paradiplozoon homoion, P. vojteki.



Crustacea: Argulus japonicus, Lamproglena pulchella.

Liza abu: See Planiliza abu

Luciobarbus barbulus (reported as Barbus barbulus)


Monogenea: Dactylogyrus affinis, D. barbuli, D. inutilis, D. pavlovskyi, D.

wegeneri, Dogielius persicus, D. planus.

Cestoda: Caryophyllaeus laticeps.


Luciobarbus xanthopterus (reported also as Barbus xanthopterus)


Myxozoa: Myxobolus dogieli, M. pfeifferi.


Monogenea: Dactylogyrus achmerowi, D. affinis, D. barbioides, D. barbuli,

D. cornu, D. dogieli, D. inutilis, D. jamansajensis, Paradiplozoon

homoion, P. kasimii.

Cestoda: Caryophyllaeus auriculatus, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi.

Nematoda: Contracaecum sp., Rhabdochona denudata.



Mastacembelus mastacembelus

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus, Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus.

Cestoda: Senga magna, S. ophiocephalina.



Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (reported as Barbus sharpeyi)


Monogenea: Dactylogyrus barbuli, D. extensus, Dogielius persicus,

Gyrodactylus baicalensis.

Cestoda: Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus.


Mystus pelusius



Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris, Contracaecum sp.


Planiliza abu (reported as Liza abu)

Mastigophora: Trypanosoma sp.

Ciliophora: Apiosoma amoebae, A. campanulata, A. dallii, A. piscicola,

Chilodonella cyprini, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Riboscyphidia arctica,

Scyphidia globularis, Tetrahymena pyriformis, Trichodina cottidarum, T.

domerguei, T. elegini, T. nigra, Trichophrya sinensis, Vorticella costata,

V. globularia.


Trematoda: Ascocotyle coleostoma, Centrocestus formosanus.

Monogenea: Dactylogyrus cornu, D. extensus, D. minutus, D. pavlovskyi, D.

simplex, D. vastator, Diplozoon paradoxum, Discocotyle sagittata,

Gyrodactylus elegans, G. menschikowi, Ligophorus vanbenedenii,

Microcotyle donavini.


Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis, Paulisentis fractus.


Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus, Dermoergasilus varicoleus, Ergasilus barbi, E.

mosulensis, E. peregrinus, E. sieboldi, Lamproglena pulchella, Lernaea

cyprinacea, Paraergasilus inflatus.

Silurus triostegus

Trematoda: Azygia lucii.


Monogenea: Thaparocleidus gomitus, T. vistulensis.

Cestoda: Glanitaenia osculata.



Tilapia zillii: See Coptodon zillii

Table (3) gives a comparison between number of parasite species so far

recorded from Babylon inland waters and those of the farm fishes of the same

province (Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie, 2016b; Al-Jubouri et al., 2017; Hussain,

2017; Jawdhira et al., 2017). A total of 47 parasite species were common in

both inland waters and farm fishes of this province. These included one

mastigophoran (Ichthyobodo necator), seven ciliophorans (Apiosoma

amoebae, A. piscicola, Chilodonella cyprini, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis,

Trichodina cottidarum, T. domerguei and T. nigra), three myxozoans

(Myxobolus dogieli, M. oviformis and M. pfeifferi), one trematode (Ascocotyle

coleostoma), 23 monogeneans (D. achmerowi, D. arcuatus, D. barbioides, D.

cornu, D. dogieli, D. elegantis (misspelled as D. elegans), D. extensus, D.

inexpectatus, D. jamansajensis, D. lamellatus, D. latituba, D. minutus, D.

simplex, D. vastator, Diplozoon paradoxum, Eudiplozoon nipponicum,

Gyrodactylus baicalensis, G. elegans, G. markevitschi, G. medius, G.

menschikowi, G. sprostonae and Microcotyle donavini), two cestodes

(Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus and Schyzocotyle acheilognathi), one

nematode (Contracaecum sp.), one acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus

iraqensis), one clam glochidium (Unio pictorum) and seven crustaceans

(Dermoergasilus varicoleus, Ergasilus barbi, E. mosulensis, E. sieboldi,

Lamproglena pulchella, Lernaea cyprinacea and Paraergasilus inflatus).

Forty-two out of these 47 common parasite species (89.4%) are parasites with

direct life cycles. It is well known that parasites of direct life cycle have more

chances and easy access to their hosts in comparison with those of indirect

life cycles which require one or two intermediate hosts to complete their life

cycles (Mhaisen, 1983; Hoffman, 1998).

Finally, by comparing number of parasitic species so far recorded from

fishes of Babylon province; both from farm fishes (Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie,

2016b) and inland waters (the present article) with the parasitic fauna of

fishes of two neighbouring provinces; Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf (Mhaisen & Al-

Rubaie, 2016a) and Al-Anbar province (Mhaisen et al., 2017), it is clear that

the parasitic fauna of Babylon province (150 parasite species from 28 fish

species) is higher than that of Al-Anbar province (122 parasite species from

32 fish species) and much higher than that of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province

(20 parasite species from 14 fish species). In other words, the mean parasite

species per fish host species in Babylon, Al-Anbar and Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf


provinces were 5.4, 3.8 and 1.4, respectively. This difference is attributed to

the fact that parasites of all fishes of Babylon province had received more

attention from fish parasitologists in Iraq in comparison with those of Al-

Najaf Al-Ashraf and Al-Anbar provinces in concept of available literature; 73

references in case of Babylon province, 26 references in case of Al-Anbar

province and only nine references in case of Al-Najaf Al-Asraf province.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to both Mr. Hussain T. Hussain of Department of Animal

Production, Al-Musaib Technical Institute, Al-Musaib, Iraq and Mr. Akeel

M. K. Al-Musawi of College of Veterinary Medicine, The Green University

of Al-Qasim, Babylon, Iraq for providing us with information about some

unstated locations of some parasites recorded by them (Hussain, 2009; Al-

Musawi, 2016). Sinceer thanks are due to Dr. Adil Y. Al-Handal of the

University of Gothenburg, Sweden for his help in providing us with the map

(Figure 1).

Table 1: List of fishes of Babylon province and their richness with parasites.

Class Actinopterygii

Order Cypriniformes

Family Cyprinidae

Alburnus caeruleus Heckel, 1843

Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843

Alburnus orontis Sauvage, 1882

Alburnus sellal Heckel, 1843

Arabibarbus grypus (Heckel, 1843)

Carasobarbus luteus (Heckel, 1843)

Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chondrostoma regium (Heckel, 1843)

Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844)

Cyprinion kais Heckel, 1843

Cyprinion macrostomum Heckel, 1843

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758

Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843)

Leuciscus vorax (Heckel, 1843)

Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1843)

Luciobarbus xanthopterus Heckel, 1843

Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874)

Order Siluriformes

Family Bagridae

Mystus pelusius (Solander, 1794)

Family Siluridae

Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843


Family Sisoridae

Glyptothorax steindachneri (Pietschmann, 1913)

Family Heteropneustidae

Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794)

Order Cyprinodontiformes

Family Poeciliidae

Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859

Order Synbranchiformes

Family Mastacembelidae

Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander, 1794)

Order Perciformes

Family Cichlidae

Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848)

Order Mugiliformes

Family Mugilidae

Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843)

____________________________________________________________________

Table 2: List of parasite species and their fish hosts in Babylon province, Iraq.

Parasite major groups Fish host species

Phylum Mastigophora- Class Kinetoplastidea

Ichthyobodo necator Arabibarbus grypus

Trypanosoma sp. Planiliza abu

Phylum Ciliophora- classes Phyllopharyngea and Oligohymenophorea

Apiosoma amoebae Planiliza abu

Apiosoma campanulata Planiliza abu

Apiosoma dallii Planiliza abu

Apiosoma piscicola Planiliza abu

Chilodonella cyprinid Planiliza abu

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Alburnus caeruleus, A. orontis, A. sellal,

Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Chondrostoma regium, Coptodon zillii, Cyprinion

kais, C. macrostomum, Cyprinus carpio,

Gambusia holbrooki, Garra rufa, Glyptothorax

steindachneri, Leuciscus vorax, Mystus pelusius,

Planiliza abu

Riboscyphidia arctica Planiliza abu

Scyphidia globularis Planiliza abu

Tetrahymena pyriformis Planiliza abu

Trichodina borealis Gambusia holbrooki

Trichodina cottidarum Alburnus sellal, Coptodon zillii, Cyprinion kais,

Planiliza abu


Trichodina domerguei Alburnus caeruleus, A. orontis, A. sellal,


Carassius auratus, Coptodon zillii, Cyprinion

kais, Cyprinus carpio, Garra rufa, Glyptothorax

steindachneri, Heteropneustes fossilis,

Luciobarbus xanthopterus, Mystus pelusius,

Planiliza abu

Trichodina elegini Planiliza abu

Trichodina nigra Cyprinus carpio, Leuciscus vorax, Planiliza abu

Trichophrya sinensis Planiliza abu

Vorticella costata Planiliza abu

Vorticella globularia Planiliza abu

Phylum Cnidaria- Class Myxozoa

Myxobolus dogieli Luciobarbus xanthopterus

Myxobolus oviformis Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinus carpio, Planiliza

abu

Myxobolus pfeifferi Alburnus orontis, Arabibarbus grypus,

Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinion kais, C.

macrostomum, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus

barbulus, L. xanthopterus, Mesopotamichthys

sharpeyi, Planiliza abu

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Trematoda

Ascocotyle coleostoma* Planiliza abu

Aspidogaster limacoides Alburnus caeruleus, Cyprinion kais,

Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus xanthopterus,

Mystus pelusius

Asymphylodora demeli Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Cyprinion kais

Asymphylodora markewitschi Alburnus sellal, Arabibarbus grypus,

Cyprinion kais

Asymphylotrema macracetabulum Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Cyprinion kais, Cyprinus carpio

Azygia lucii Silurus triostegus

Centrocestus formosanus* Planiliza abu

Orientocreadium pseudobagri Glyptothorax steindachneri

Pseudozoogonoides

subaequiporus

Glyptothorax steindachneri

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Monogenea

Dactylogyrus achmerowi Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Luciobarbus xanthopterus

Dactylogyrus affinis Luciobarbus barbulus, L. xanthopterus

Dactylogyrus arcuatus Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinion kais

Dactylogyrus barbioides Arabibarbus grypus, Luciobarbus

xanthopterus


Dactylogyrus barbuli Luciobarbus barbulus, L. xanthopterus,

Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi

Dactylogyrus carassobarbi Carasobarbus luteus

Dactylogyrus cornu Arabibarbus grypus, Cyprinion

macrostomum, Luciobarbus xanthopterus,

Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus dogieli Alburnus sellal, Carasobarbus luteus,

Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinion kais,


Dactylogyrus dulkeiti Carassius carassius

Dactylogyrus elegantis Carasobarbus luteus

Dactylogyrus ersinensis Cyprinus carpio

Dactylogyrus extensus Alburnus caeruleus, A. orontis, A. sellal,

Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinion kais,

Cyprinus carpio, Leuciscus vorax,

Mastacembelus mastacembelus,

Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus inexpectatus Carassius carassius

Dactylogyrus inutilis Arabibarbus grypus, Luciobarbus barbulus,

L. xanthopterus

Dactylogyrus jamansajensis Luciobarbus xanthopterus

Dactylogyrus lamellatus Ctenopharyngodon idella

Dactylogyrus latituba Cyprinion macrostomum

Dactylogyrus macrostomi Cyprinion macrostomum

Dactylogyrus minutus Alburnus orontis, Arabibarbus grypus,

Carasobarbus luteus, Ctenopharyngodon

idella, Cyprinion kais, Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus pallicirrus Cyprinion macrostomum

Dactylogyrus pavlovskyi Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Luciobarbus barbulus, Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus simplex Leuciscus vorax, Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus vastator Arabibarbus grypus , Planiliza abu

Dactylogyrus wegeneri Luciobarbus barbulus

Diplozoon paradoxum Cyprinus carpio, Leuciscus vorax, Planiliza

abu

Discocotyle sagittata Planiliza abu

Dogielius persicus Carasobarbus luteus, Luciobarbus barbulus,


Dogielius planus Luciobarbus barbulus

Eudiplozoon nipponicum Cyprinus carpio

Gyrodactylus baicalensis Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi

Gyrodactylus derjavini Leuciscus vorax


Gyrodactylus elegans Alburnus orontis, Cyprinion macrostomum,

Cyprinus carpio, Planiliza abu

Gyrodactylus gussevi Heteropneustes fossilis

Gyrodactylus markevitschi Arabibarbus grypus, Cyprinion kais,

Cyprinus carpio

Gyrodactylus medius Carasobarbus luteus

Gyrodactylus menschikowi Cyprinus carpio, Planiliza abu

Gyrodactylus sprostonae Alburnus orontis, A. sellal, Carassius

carassius, Cyprinion kais

Ligophorus vanbenedenii Planiliza abu

Mastacembelocleidus

heteranchorus

Mastacembelus mastacembelus

Microcotyle donavini Planiliza abu

Octomacrum europaeum Cyprinion kais, Cyprinion macrostomum,

Garra rufa

Paradiplozoon homoion Cyprinus carpio, Leuciscus vorax,


Paradiplozoon kasimii Cyprinion macrostomum, Luciobarbus

xanthopterus

Paradiplozoon megan Carasobarbus luteus

Paradiplozoon vojteki Leuciscus vorax

Thaparocleidus gomitus Silurus triostegus

Thaparocleidus vistulensis Silurus triostegus

Phylum Platyhelminthes- Class Cestoda

Caryophyllaeus auriculatus Luciobarbus xanthopterus

Caryophyllaeus laticeps Luciobarbus barbulus

Diphyllobothrium sp.* Carasobarbus luteus

Glanitaenia osculata Silurus triostegus

Neogryporhynchus

cheilancristrotus*


Schyzocotyle acheilognathi Carasobarbus luteus, Luciobarbus

xanthopterus

Senga magna Mastacembelus mastacembelus

Senga ophiocephalina Mastacembelus mastacembelus

Phylum Nematoda- class Chromadorea

Camallanus lacustris Alburnus orontis, Glyptothorax

steindachneri, Mystus pelusius

Contracaecum spp.* Alburnus orontis, Arabibarbus grypus,

Carasobarbus luteus, Coptodon zillii,

Leuciscus vorax, Luciobarbus xanthopterus,

Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Mystus

pelusius, Silurus triostegus

Philometra sp. Alburnus sellal

Rhabdochona denudata Arabibarbus grypus, Luciobarbus

xanthopterus


Phylum Acanthocephala- classes Eoacanthocephala and Palaeacanthocephala

Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis Planiliza abu

Paulisentis fractus Planiliza abu

Phylum Mollusca- Class Bivalvia

Unio pictorum* Alburnus caeruleus, A. orontis, A. sellal,


Coptodon zillii, Cyprinion kais, C.

macrostomum, Garra rufa, Glyptothorax

steindachneri, Heteropneustes fossilis,

Leuciscus vorax, Luciobarbus barbulus, L.

xanthopterus, Mastacembelus

mastacembelus, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi,

Mystus pelusius, Planiliza abu, Silurus

triostegus

Phylum Arthropoda- Subphylum Crustacea- classes Ichthyostraca,

Hexanauplia and Malacostraca

Argulus foliaceus Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinion

macrostomum, Cyprinus carpio, Planiliza

abu

Argulus japonicas Leuciscus vorax

Dermoergasilus varicoleus Alburnus mossulensis, Planiliza abu

Ergasilus barbi Planiliza abu

Ergasilus mosulensis Glyptothorax steindachneri, Planiliza abu

Ergasilus peregrinus Carasobarbus luteus, Glyptothorax

steindachneri, Planiliza abu

Ergasilus sieboldi Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,

Cyprinus carpio, Planiliza abu

Ichthyoxenos amurensis Gambusia holbrooki

Lamproglena pulchella Leuciscus vorax, Planiliza abu

Lernaea cyprinacea Arabibarbus grypus, Cyprinion

macrostomum, Cyprinus carpio, Gambusia

holbrooki, Planiliza abu

Paraergasilus inflatus Planiliza abu


Table 3: Comparison between number of fish parasite species from farm fishes of

Babylon province and those from inland waters of that province.

Parasite major groups Number of fish parasite species in:

Babylon inland

waters

Babylon farm

fishes*

Common in

both

Phylum Mastigophora 2 1 1

Phylum Apicomplexa 0 3 0

Phylum Ciliophora 17 13 7

Phylum Cnidaria 3 5 3

Phylum Platyhelminthes-

Class Trematoda

9 5 1


Class Monogenea

47 46 23


Class Cestoda

8 6 3

Phylum Nematoda 4 3 1

Phylum Acanthocephala 2 2 1

Phylum Mollusca 1 1 1

Phylum Arthropoda 11 9 7

Total 104 94 47 * Based on Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie (2016b), Al-Jubouri et al. (2017), Hussain (2017) and

Jawdhira et al. (2017).


Figure 1: Map of Babylon province showing the sites from where fishes were

collected for parasitological investigation.


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