Acipenser stellatus as a new host record for Lernaea cyprinacea linnaeus, 1758 (crustacea; copepoda), a parasites of freshwater fishes in Iran

Abstract

Acipenser stellatus is the most euryhaline sturgeon in the Caspian Sea which is reputed to have the tastiest flesh and also the best caviar in Iran. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the gill parasites of A. stellatus in "Rajaee Aquaculture Centre" in northeast of Caspian Sea Basin, Mazandaran Province. A total of 22 individuals were selected accidentally and examined for the parasites during the spring of 2017. Six adult female of Lernaea cyprinacea L. 1758, an ectoparasitic copepod species was detected on the gill filaments and archs. Five (22.7%) out of 22 specimens of the examined fish were infected with adult anchor worms containing egg sacs and A.stellatus is presented as a new host for L.cyprinacea in the present report. The presence of this parasite on sturgeon fishes has not previously been reported in all over the world. Also this is the first report of occurrence of adult female of L.cyprinacea on the fish gills.