The prevalence and pathology of intestinal cestode infection in freshwater catfish in the reservoir dams of West Azerbaijan, Iran

In the present study a total of ۱۸۰ S.glanis (۶۰ fish for each area) were collected from Aras, Mahabad and Zarrineh (shahid kazemi) dam reservoirs in the one-year survey of ۲۰۱۸. The seasonal prevalence of infection to Siluris glanis in Aras, Mahabad and Zarrineh were as spring (۶۰%, ۵۶%, ۵۹%), summer (۷۰%, ۶۶.۵%, ۶۹%), Autumn (۶۳.۳%, ۶۶%, ۶۴%) and winter (۴۵%, ۳۹%, ۴۱%) respectively. Maximum infection intensity (Mean ± SE) of P.osculatus was determined in Aras (۶.۶۱ ± ۰.۵), Mahabad (۵.۸۲ ± ۰.۶۱) and Zarrineh (۵.۷ ± ۰.۵۶) dams in summer. The numbers of parasites were ranged from ۱ to ۱۷ in different seasons. The prevalence and intensity (Mean ± SE) of infection were significantly different in summer and winter with the other seasons (p<۰.۰۵). Data analysis had demonstrated that infection rate in affected fish mostly depended on seasons. Also, there was no significant difference in infection to this parasite between male and female European catfish. Also, pathological study demonstrated that scolex adhesiveness to the intestine of Siluris glanis caused mechanical damages on it. According to the results, infection of freshwater catfish to Protocephalus osculatus enjoyed the highest prevalence in the study area.