Study of parasitic infection in ornamental fish farms in Qom Province

Ornamental fish culturing has been altered to one of the most vital and profitable industries in numerous countries all over the world. Cultivation and propagation of ornamental fishes have been increasing in the last years in Iran. Qom province is one the main sources of culture and propagation of ornamental fish in Iran. Aim of the present study is investigation of parasitic infestation or ornamental fish farms that have reported deaths in different fish species. The research was conducted for seven months from November ۲۰۲۱ to May ۲۰۲۲ on ۱۴ farms and ۱۵ species of ornamental fish referred. ۱۵ ornamental fish species include Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, Poecilia reticulata, Poecilia sphenops, Carassius auratus, Hyphessobrycon eques, Pterophyllum scalare, Danio rerio, Betta splendens, Puntius tetrazona, Hemigrammus ocellifer, Ancistrus sp., Heros severus, Andinoacara rivulatus and Melanotaenia praecox were sampled and examined for internal and external parasitic infestation by light microscopy. In the results, external parasites including Trichodina sp., Gyrodactylus sp, Lernaea sp, Ichthyobodo sp., Tetrahymena sp., Oodinium sp., Dactylogyrus sp. and internal parasites including Capillaria sp. and Hexamita sp. were detected. The highest prevalence of parasites was related to Capillaria sp (۲۲.۶%). and the lowest prevalence were related to Lernaea and Ichthyobodo (۳.۲۲ %).