Investigation of helminthes parasite fauna of Neogobius melanostomus in the Southern part of the Caspian Sea

Gobiidae is a family of bony fishes in terms of high abundance and species richness have second place after Cyprinidae in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. So the members of this family are one of the unique features of this ecosystem and have a special value in terms of protection. Because of abundance and high biomass, these species play major role in food chains of economically valuable animals including Sturgeon fishes (Acipenseridae) and also they are intermediate hosts and carriers of many parasites in the Caspian Sea ecosystem. The aim of this study was to investigate helminthes parasites fauna of Neogobius melanostomus in the Southern part of the Caspian Sea. A total of ۱۷۹ specimens of N. melanostomus were collected using trawl net from two stations; Nowshahr and Babolsar. During this study, abdomen, internal organ surface, gut contents and liver paranchym were investigated. In total, three species of nematodes in cyst form were separated and identified; Raphidascaris acus and Streptocara sp. from intestine and Eustrongylides excisus in cyst form attached to abdomen. Stereptocara sp. was reported for the first time from this species. Since according to diet studies of this species in the Caspian Sea, crustaceans have been the dominant element of diet, the presence of nematodes in the parasitic fauna is not unexpected.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gobiidae ، parasite ، nematode