Bull 1 K. N. Abdul-Ameer & A. J. Al-Saadi Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. (2013) 12 (3): 1-9 ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE[ MONOGENEAN GYRODACTYLUS TAIMENI ERGENS, 1971 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN IRAQ ON GILLS OF THE COMMON CARP CYPRINUS CARPIO Kefah N. Abdul-Ameer and Abid Ali J. Al-Saadi Department of Biology, College of Education (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq ABSTRACT The monogenean Gyrodactylus taimeni Ergens, 1971 was recorded in this study for the first time in Iraq from gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758. The description and measurements of this parasite as well as illustration were given. In addition, a list of species of Gyrodactylus so far recorded from C. carpio in Iraq is also included together with a list of all other hosts recorded for each gyrodactylid species. INTRODUCTION Monogenean flatworms of the genus Gyrodactylus occur on a wide array of fishes, possess a high degree of host-specificity (Buchmann, 2012). Species of this genus are parasites of freshwater and marine teleosts (Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya et al., 1962). All the species of Gyrodactylus are viviparous with embryo already containing a further developing embryo. These parasites have a specific birthing process of two daughters. The first daughter is created asexually from a ball of cells within the parent and then released through the birth pore. The second daughter and all subsequent daughters develop from an oocyst and enter the uterus after the previous daughter is born (Szczembara, 2011). Species of Gyrodactylus are seen especially in teleost fishes, infect and live ectoparasitically on the skin, fins and gills (Koyun and Altunel, 2011). The worm attaches to the fin or skin surface of the host by inserting 16 marginal hooklets and one pair of median hooks into the epidermis. This action is clearly associated with injuries to the epithelial cells. Also feeding activities of the worm impose epithelium damage (Buchmann, 2012). The parasites cause excessive mucous secretion and potential hemorrhagic lesions (Johnsen and Jensen, 1991). Salmon skin samples showed a reduced mucous cells concentration and epidermis was thinner than in uninfected fishes (Sterud et al., 1998). The disease resulting from Gyrodactylus infection is called gyrodactylosis which has been reported to be responsible for death of a wide variety of fishes (Szczembara, 2011). Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 was recognized as a virulent pathogen on Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) populations in Norway since 1975, the economic loss caused by this parasite amount to 480 million Euros (Bakke et al., 2002; Rokicka et al., 2007). In Iraq, 21 Gyrodactylus species have been described from freshwater fishes from different water bodies, 17 species of which were recorded from the common carp C. carpio. The first study in Iraq concerning Gyrodactylus was that on G. elegans (Ali and Shaaban, 1984), after which several studies were carried out, among which some reported new records of Gyrodactylus species in Iraq (Ali et al., 1988b; Salih et al., 1988; Abdul-Ameer, 1989; Mhaisen et al., 1990; Al-Zubaidy, 1998; Abdullah, 2002; Jori, 2006; Al-Zubaidy, 2007; Mama, 2012; Abdul-Ameer and Al-Saadi 2013, Abdullah, 2013). 2 On the occurrence of the monogenean The present investigation deals with the record of the monogenean G. taimeni which parasitizes C. carpio as no previous record on this parasite in Iraq was documented (Mhaisen, 2013). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 63 specimens of the common carp C. carpio were collected from different fish markets in Baghdad city during the period from November 2011 till March 2012. The fishes were brought alive to the laboratory and freshly examined for ectoparasites. Skin and gill smears were microscopically examined. Care was taken to isolate and flatten the parasite specimens which then were stained by aqueous neutral red and fixed in glycerine. Drawing was done by using a camera lucida. Parasite identification was performed according to two taxonomical accounts (Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya et al., 1962; Gussev, 1985). The information on the previous account records of parasites was checked by using the index-catalogue of parasites and disease agents of fishes of Iraq (Mhaisen, 2013). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Out of the 63 common carp, three fishes were infected with the monogenean Gyrodactylus taimeni. The parasites were found on the gills of examined fishes. The measurements were based on four specimens of parasites. The following is a brief description and measurements of this parasite (in mm) as shown in Fig. (1). Small worm, length 0.25-0.3 (0.27), width 0.07-0.09 (0.08). Overall length of median hooks 0.061-0.064 (0.062), basal median hook lengh 0.047-0.05 (0.048) and point 0.024- 0.028 (0.026). Ventral connecting bar 0.004-0.006 (0.005) × 0.025-0.027 (0.026), length of membranoid extension 0.014-0.016 (0.015). Marginal hooks total length 0.049-0.054 (0.051), shaft 0.036-0.04 (0.038), sickle 0.012-0.014 (0.013). The measurements of the present G. taimeni are in agreement with these of the holotype of the parasite from Mongolia (Gussev, 1985). According to the index-catalogue of parasites and disease agents of fishes of Iraq (Mhaisen, 2013), the present report of this monogenean represents its first record in Iraq, as no previous record was given for this parasite from fishes of Iraq. By recording G. taimeni of the present study, a total of 18 Gyrodactylus species become known from C. carpio in Iraq. The following is a list of these species (arranged alphabetically) together with their hosts in Iraq. Due to the existence of 82 reports on the occurrence of Gyrodactylus species in Iraq (Mhaisen, 2013); only the first report for each host will be given here. 1. Gyrodactylus baicalensis Bogolepova, 1950: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Salih et al. (1988). The other seven hosts known in Iraq are: Acanthobrama centisquama (Balasem et al., 2003), Barbus sharpeyi (Mhaisen et al., 1997), Carasobarbus luteus (Ali et al., 1988a), Carassius auratus (Asmar et al., 2003), Chondrostomum regium (Mhaisen et al., 1995), Cyprinion macrostomum (Ali et al., 1988a) and Liza abu (Mhaisen et al., 1995). 3 K. N. Abdul-Ameer & A. J. Al-Saadi 2. Gyrodactylus barbi Ergens, 1976: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Mama (2012). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 3. Gyrodactylus cyprini Diarova, 1964: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Mama (2012). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 4. Gyrodactylus elegans Nordmann, 1832: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from both C. carpio and Liza abu by Ali and Shaaban (1984). The other 20 hosts known for this parasite in Iraq are: Acanthobrama centisquama (Ali et al., 1987), Acanthobrama marmid (Mhaisen et al., 1995), Alburnus orontis (Al-Sa’adi, 2007), Aspius vorax (Asmar et al., 1999), Barbus belayewi (Al-Jawda et al., 2000), Barbus esocinus (Asmar et al., 1999), Barbus grypus (Ali et al., 1986), Barbus luteus (Al-Awadi, 1997), Barbus sharpeyi (Khalifa, 1989), Barbus xanthopterus (Ali et al., 1986), Carassius auratus (Asmar et al., 2003), Carassius carassius (Mhaisen et al., 2003), Chondrostoma regium (Mhaisen et al., 1995), Ctenopharyngodon idella (Salih et al., 1988), Cyprinion macrostomum (Al-Jadoaa, 2002), Garra rufa (Mhaisen et al., 1995), Heteropneustes fossilis (Ali et al., 1987), Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Mohammad-Ali et al., 1999), Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Mhaisen et al., 1999) and Silurus triostegus (Al- Jawda et al., 2003). 5. Gyrodactylus gobioninum Gussev, 1955: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Mama (2012). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 6. Gyrodactylus kherulensis Ergens, 1974: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Ali et al. (1988b). The other two hosts known in Iraq are: C. idella (Al-Zubaidy, 1998) and S. triostegus (Abdullah, 2013). 7. Gyrodactylus lavareti Malmberg, 1956: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Abdul-Ameer and Al- Saadi (2013). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 8. Gyrodactylus longoacuminatus Zitnan, 1964: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Mama (2012). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 9. Gyrodactylus malmbergi Ergens, 1961: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from both C. carpio and H. molitrix by Al-Zubaidy (1998). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 10. Gyrodactylus markevitschi Kulakovskaya, 1952: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from Varicorhinus trutta by Abdul- Ameer (1989). The other four hosts known for this parasite in Iraq are: Aphanius dispar (Kadhim, 2009), Barbus grypus (Al-Sa’adi, 2007), Cyprinion kais (Al-Sa’adi, 2007) and C. carpio (Al-Zubaidy, 1998). 4 On the occurrence of the monogenean 11. Gyrodactylus medius Kathariner, 1893: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Al- Zubaidy (1998). The other host known in Iraq is Barbus luteus (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). 12. Gyrodactylus menschikowi Gvosdev, 1950: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from from both C. carpio and L. abu by Al- Zubaidy (2007). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 13. Gyrodactylus molnari Ergens, 1978: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Abdullah (2013). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 14. Gyrodactylus paralatus A.Gusev, 1955: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from both C. carpio and H. molitrix by Al-Zubaidy (1998). No more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 15. Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Al-Zubaidy (1998). So far, no more hosts are reported from Iraq for this parasite (Mhaisen, 2013). 16. Gyrodactylus sprostonae Ling, 1962: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Al-Zubaidy (1998). The other five hosts known in Iraq are Alburnus orontis (Al-Sa’adi, 2007), Carassius auratus (Abdullah, 2013), Carassius carassius (Al-Sa’adi, 2007), Chalcalburnus sellal (Al-Sa’adi, 2007) and Cyprinion kais (Al-Sa’adi, 2007). 17. Gyrodactylus taimeni Ergens, 1971: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio of the present study. 18. Gyrodactylus vicinus Bykhovskii, 1957: This parasite was recorded for the first time in Iraq from C. carpio by Al-Zubaidy (1998). The other two hosts known in Iraq are B. luteus and L. abu which were both reported by Al-Nasiri (2000). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks are due to Prof. Dr. Furhan T. Mhaisen for confirming the identification of G. taimeni, permission to use his index-catalogue of parasites and disease agents of fishes of Iraq and critical reading of the manuscript. Also, thanks are due to Mrs. Azhar A. Al-Moussawi of the Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum, University of Baghdad for her help in using the camera lucida. 5 K. N. Abdul-Ameer & A. J. Al-Saadi Fig. 1: Gyrodactylus taimeni Ergens, 1971 1A: Photomicrogragh of the haptor (Scale bar= 0.01mm.). 1B: Camera lucida drawing of the haptor (Scale bar= 0.01mm.). 1C: Photomicrogragh of the marginal hook (hooklet) (Scale bar= 0.01mm.). 1D: Camera lucida drawing of the marginal hook (Scale bar= 0.01mm.). Dcb= dorsal connecting bar, H= hooklet, M= membranoid extension, Mh= median hook. 6 On the occurrence of the monogenean LITERATURE CITED Abdul-Ameer, K. N. 1989. Study on parasites of freshwater fishes from Tigris river, Salah Al- Dien province, Iraq. M. Sc. Thesis, Univ. Baghdad: 98pp. (In Arabic). Abdul-Ameer, K. N. and Al-Saadi, A. A. J. 2013. The first record of monogenetic trematode Gyrodactylus lavareti Malmberg, 1957 on the gills of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. (Sent for publication in Ibn Al-Haitham J. 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(2013) 12 (3): 1-9 ألول مرة في Gyrodactylus taimeni Ergens, 1971 أُحادي المنشأظهور Cyprinus carpio عتياديإلالعراق من غالصم أسماك الكارب ا كفاح ناصر عبد األمير وعبد علي جنزيل الساعدي ، جامعة بغداد(بن الهيثمإ)قسم علوم الحياة، كلية التربية الخالصة ألول مرة في Gyrodactylus taimeni Ergens, 1971سجل أحادي المنشأ تم إعطاء .Cyprinus carpioالعراق من غالصم أسماك الكارب اإلعتيادي فضالً عن . الطفيلي باإلضافة إلى الرسم التوضيحي له مواصفات وقياسات هذا المسجلة لحد اآلن في Gyrodactylusذلك، تم تضمين قائمة بأنواع الجنس العراق من أسماك الكارب اإلعتيادي مع أنواع المضيفات األخرى لكل نوع . منها