Occurrence of the Swimbladder Parasite Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda, Dracunculoidea) in European Eels (Anguilla anguilla) in Ceyhan River, Turkey

Authors: ERCÜMENT GENÇ, AYSEL ŞAHAN, TÜLAY ALTUN, İBRAHİM CENGİZLER, ERDAL NEVŞAT

Abstract: European eels (Anguilla anguilla), collected from the Ceyhan River (Adana, Turkey) in 2002, were examined in terms of the presence of swimbladder nematoda. The existence of infection with Anguillicola crassus, a pathogenic swimbladder parasite, was identified in 50 out of 64 specimens. The total number of parasites, prevalence (%), parasite abundance and mean intensity of parasite values of July and November samples were 93, 82.86%, 2-7, 3.31 ± 1.32 and 56, 72.41%, 1-5, 3.20 ± 1.30, respectively. There was no significant histopathological destruction in the internal organs of the infected eels.

Keywords: Anguilla anguilla, swimbladder parasite, Anguillicola crassus

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