A study on the parasite fauna of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in some areas of Erbil province of Northern Iraq

In this study, three different areas of Erbil province were chosen to collect data on parasite fauna of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in ponds such as Ainkawa Fish Hatchery, Qushtapa (Southern Erbil) and Koya (Eastern Erbil). The aim of the present study was to have the knowledge on the parasites that infect C. carpio in three different environments. A total of 134 common carp Cyprinus carpio (51 fishes in Ainkawa fish Hatchery, 39 fishes in Qushtapa area and 44 fishes in Koya area) were collected and 90 fishe were found to be ınfected. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, oxygen and temperature were measured before collecting samples from the ponds. Sampled fishes were inspected in aspects of parasitology in laboratory to determine the species of parasites. There were 5 species of different ectoparasites in the present study. In the class of copopoda Ergasilus briani and ergasilus parasiluri were recorded. Lernaea cyprinacea in the family of Lernaeidae was also recorded. A protozoan Trichodina acuta from the family of Trichodinidae and a monogenean Gyrodactylus cyprini from the group of Gyrodactylidae were also identified. It was concluded that different parasites were found in different areas of the present study, but there was a strong link of disease transmission between the Ainkawa fish hatchery and other two areas (Qushtapa and Koya) in particular, and there was a link of disease transmission between all three locations. Prevalence, mean intensity and abundance were relatively different in three different areas.