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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
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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
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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.
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60 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 61
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).
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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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 63
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.
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affinis) from Hilla river (Hussain, 2008), gills of Garra rufa from the
Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a),
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 65
(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
Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a),
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
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), 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.
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66 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 67
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
Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al., 2015a),
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
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68 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 69
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).
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70 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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).
Phylum Platyhelminthes
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 71
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
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72 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 73
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
(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 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
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74 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen
et al., 2015b). These fishes included A. orontis, A. grypus (reported as B.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 75
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
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76 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 77
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
from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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
(also reported as B. luteus) from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-
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
species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen
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
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78 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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).
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 79
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).
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80 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
Phylum Platyhelminthes
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 81
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)
from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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
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82 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 83
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
the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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)
from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
2015e), intestine of L. xanthopterus (also reported as B. xanthopterus) from
the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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
the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen et al.,
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).
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84 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 85
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
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86 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
Page 31
Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 87
species from the Euphrates river at Al-Musaib city (Al-Sa’adi, 2007; Mhaisen
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
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88 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
(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
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus, D. minutus, Gyrodactylus elegans, G.
sprostonae.
Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris, Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Alburnus sellal (also reported as Chalcalburnus sellal)
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina cottidarum, T. domerguei.
Trematoda: Asymphylodora markewitschi.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dogieli, D. extensus, Gyrodactylus sprostonae
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 89
Nematoda: Philometra sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Arabibarbus grypus (reported as Barbus grypus)
Mastigophora: Ichthyobodo necator.
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
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.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
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.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus, Ergasilus peregrinus, E. sieboldi.
Carassius auratus
Ciliophora: Trichodina domerguei.
Carassius carassius
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dulkeiti, D. inexpectatus, Gyrodactylus
sprostonae.
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90 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
Chalcalburnus sellal: See Alburnus sellal
Chondrostoma regium
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.
Coptodon zillii (reported as Tilapia zillii)
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina cottidarum, T. domerguei.
Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus dogieli, D. lamellatus, D. minutus.
Cyprinion kais
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina cottidarum, T. domerguei.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides, Asymphylodora demeli, A.
markewitschi, Asymphylotrema macracetabulum.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus arcuatus, D. dogieli, D extensus, D. minutus,
Gyrodactylus markevitschi, G. sprostonae, Octomacrum europaeum.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Cyprinion macrostomum
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus cornu, D. latituba, D. macrostomi, D. pallicirrus,
Gyrodactylus elegans, Octomacrum europaeum, Paradiplozoon kasimii.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus Lernaea cyprinacea.
Cyprinus carpio
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei, T. nigra.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus oviformis, M. pfeifferi.
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.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 91
Garra rufa
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.
Monogenea: Octomacrum europaeum.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Glyptothorax steindachneri
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.
Trematoda: Orientocreadium pseudobagri, Pseudozoogonoides
subaequiporus.
Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Crustacea: Ergasilus mosulensis, E. peregrinus.
Heteropneustes fossilis
Ciliophora: Trichodina domerguei.
Monogenea: Gyrodactylus gussevi.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
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.
Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Crustacea: Argulus japonicus, Lamproglena pulchella.
Liza abu: See Planiliza abu
Luciobarbus barbulus (reported as Barbus barbulus)
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus affinis, D. barbuli, D. inutilis, D. pavlovskyi, D.
wegeneri, Dogielius persicus, D. planus.
Cestoda: Caryophyllaeus laticeps.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Luciobarbus xanthopterus (reported also as Barbus xanthopterus)
Ciliophora: Trichodina domerguei.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus dogieli, M. pfeifferi.
Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides.
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.
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92 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Mastacembelus mastacembelus
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus extensus, Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus.
Cestoda: Senga magna, S. ophiocephalina.
Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (reported as Barbus sharpeyi)
Myxozoa: Myxobolus pfeifferi.
Monogenea: Dactylogyrus barbuli, D. extensus, Dogielius persicus,
Gyrodactylus baicalensis.
Cestoda: Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Mystus pelusius
Ciliophora: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina domerguei.
Trematoda: Aspidogaster limacoides.
Nematoda: Camallanus lacustris, Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
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.
Myxozoa: Myxobolus oviformis, M. pfeifferi.
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.
Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.
Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis, Paulisentis fractus.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
Crustacea: Argulus foliaceus, Dermoergasilus varicoleus, Ergasilus barbi, E.
mosulensis, E. peregrinus, E. sieboldi, Lamproglena pulchella, Lernaea
cyprinacea, Paraergasilus inflatus.
Silurus triostegus
Trematoda: Azygia lucii.
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 93
Monogenea: Thaparocleidus gomitus, T. vistulensis.
Cestoda: Glanitaenia osculata.
Nematoda: Contracaecum sp.
Mollusca: Unio pictorum.
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
Page 38
94 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 95
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
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96 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
Trichodina domerguei Alburnus caeruleus, A. orontis, A. sellal,
Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,
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
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Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 97
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,
Luciobarbus xanthopterus
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,
Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi
Dogielius planus Luciobarbus barbulus
Eudiplozoon nipponicum Cyprinus carpio
Gyrodactylus baicalensis Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi
Gyrodactylus derjavini Leuciscus vorax
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98 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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,
Luciobarbus xanthopterus
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*
Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi
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
Page 43
Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 99
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,
Arabibarbus grypus, Carasobarbus luteus,
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
Page 44
100 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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
Phylum Platyhelminthes-
Class Monogenea
47 46 23
Phylum Platyhelminthes-
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).
Page 45
Fish parasites of Babylon province of Iraq, exclusive of farm fishes 101
Figure 1: Map of Babylon province showing the sites from where fishes were
collected for parasitological investigation.
Page 46
102 Mhaisen & Al-Rubaie
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