Parasite fauna of some mugilid species living in Bafra fish lakes (Kizilirmak Delta, Samsun), its distribution according to host and environmental factors and their histopathology

In the present study, the parasite fauna of flathead mullet, Mugil cephalus L., 1758 and golden grey mullet, Liza aurata R., 1758 were determined seasonaly for one-year period from15 December 2010 to 14 November 2011. Total of 254 flathead mullet and 46 golden grey mullet were caught by electroshock device, cast-net, tambour and, transported to Faculty of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences in Sinop, then ecto and endo parasite fauna in relation with host length, physico-chemical parameters and seasons were determined and histopathological changes in gill tissues caused by some parasites were also identified. Moreover, infection/infestation prevalence (%) and mean intensity values of each parasite species were also determined in relation with season, host species and length classes.A total of 13 parasite species (Trichodina puytoraci, Trichodina lepsii, Gyrodactylus sp., Ligophorus cephali, Ligophorus chabaudi, Microcotyle mugilis, Ascocotyle longa, Diplostomum spathaceum, Posthodiplostomum sp., Tylodelphys clavata, Haplosplanchnus pachysomus, Neoechinorhyncus agilis and Ergasilus lizae) was idetified on flathead mullet while a total of 10 parasite species (Trichodina puytoraci, Trichodina lepsii, Ligophorus cephali, Ligophorus chabaudi, Microcotyle mugilis, Ascocotyle longa, Tylodelphys clavata, Haplosplanchnus pachysomus, Neoechinorhyncus agilis and Ergasilus lizae) was identified on golden grey mullet in the present study.