Lernaea reseach on the rainbow trout raised in Kalecik Dam Lake in Osmaniye

This study investigated the Lernaea sp. infestation on 1000 individuals of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)) which is bred in Kalecik Dam Lake in Osmaniye during the breeding seasons between October 2015-May 2016, and October 2016-May2017. These individuals bred in net cages in natural environment, stocked in pools and sampled exemplified in every 15 days for the existence of Lernaea. The parasites founded on the examined fishes were removed together with the tissue they attached and fixed to examine later. As a result of the study, infestations were observed in March and April. However, in other months of the year, there were no infestations. When the data is assessed, the difference between the statistical findings of the months are significant (p<0,05). The specimens fixed throughout the study, separated from the tissues that they attached and examined with scanning electron microscope. After the tissue follow up process, the breed determination was made with SEM photography. The presence of parasites belonging to the genus Lernaea on the trout individuals examined by this study is examined and it is understood that the parasitic individuals may belong to Lernaea cyprinacea (Linnaeus, 1758) species.