Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 175 Gill ectoparasites of Carassius( auratus, pearl scale variety) imported into Iran

H. Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi1*, S. M. Mood1, B. S. Omrani2, B. Mokhayer1, M. Ahmadi1, M. Soltani1, S. S. Mirzargar1, M. Masoumian3 and J. Pazooki4

1Department of Aquatic Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; 2Faculty of veterinary medicine, Islamic Azad university , Karaj branch, Karaj, Iran; 3Department of Fish Diseases, Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti university, Tehran, Iran

Abstract Over a ten-month period, the gills of one-hundred imported goldfish (Carassius auratus) were examined for ectoparasites, before released from quarantine in Iran. Of the nine species of ectoparasites isolated in this study, six were monogeneans ( vastator, D. baueri, D. formosus, Dactylogyrus sp., Gyrodactylus chinensis and Gyrodactylus. sp.) and three were protistans (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina sp. and Cryptobia sp.).The isolated parasites were fixed and stained by appropriate methods. The fish were imported from south-Asia. The highest and the lowest levels of were from D. baueri and I. multifiliis respectively. Though shipments came from up to three exporting regions, all shipments were found to have high prevalence and intensity of parasites. It is suggested that exact quarantine is not performed before retail selling for imported fish. We recommend that before transporting internationally, fish should be examined for high risk parasites and other pathogens to prevent the spread of disease and parasites.

Introduction (being kept alive in a glass bowl). This species Ornamental fishkeeping is a progressively has several varieties; , , popular hobby in Iran. Goldfish (Carassius , pearlscale and more. Pearlscale auratus) belongs to Cyprinidae family, the goldfish are an ancient Chinese type with largest single grouping of freshwater fish, rotund body and double caudal fins. This undoubted the most widely kept of all fish, variety is not a strong swimmer and usually and exist in a far wider range of colours than kept in aquaria rather than ponds. Because their name implies. Goldfish are suitable of goldfish varieties beauty and their global both for aquaria and ponds (Alderton 2005). popularity, most of exported fish are sterile. These characteristics as well as, being a part of Iranian traditional table in new Persian year The ornamental fish health is important, not

* Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected] Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 176 only to minimize economic loss, but also, for vastator was the highest-rate parasite in one health of other fishes in the same aquaria (in parasitized fish and this parasite with 82% particular concerning parasites with direct and Gyrodactylus sp. with 19%, respectively, lifecycles e.g., monogenean and ciliates). indicate high and low prevalences among the monogeneans . Trichodina sp. with 23% and Materials and methods Cryptobia sp. with 8% also show this prevalence One-hundred live imported pearlscale (a among the protozoans (Table 1). variety of goldfish) from south-Asia, during a ten-month period, were collected from a Discussion quarantine facility (with their original water) This study is the first report of imported and examined in the laboratory. These fish pearlscale goldfish into Iran. There have were derived from approximately twenty been however, previous reports and articles shipments. In the lab wet mounts from both about parasites of imported ornamental fish left and right gill arches were examined from to different countries. Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi each fish. Then for more precise observing, (2003) reported on ten common ornamental stereo microscope (SA Iran, N-180) and light fish species in Iran noting the presence of microscopy (LABOVAL 4) were used for gill Gyrodactylus sp., G. kabayashi, Dactylogyrus arches. In any affected fish, photo and films was extensus, D. baueri, Trichodina sp., I. multifiliis, taken (Sony, SSC-DC80P- microscope digital Chilodonella sp., Ichthyobodo sp., Lernea camera). Monogenean parasites were fixed in cyprinacea and Argulus foliaceus in goldfish. In a ethanol 70%, and preserved on slides using similar study in Sri Lanka (on thirteen species Malmberg’s (ammonium picrate glycerine) of ornamental fish) D. extensus, D. vastator, D. and protozoans were airdried onto slides and spp., Ergasilus ceylonensis and Centrocestus spp. stained with Giemsa solution. Identification were found in gills of goldfish (Thilakaratne of monogenean species was confirmed et al., 2003). using morphological (hook, marginal hook, their bars and copulatory organs shape and In contrast, only Gussevia asota (monogenean) number) and morphometric (hook, marginal were found from gills of fifteen imported hook and bars parameters) characteristics. species of ornamental fish belong to characidae, cichlidae, cyprinidae (excluding Results goldfish), heleosomatidae, poecilidae from The parasites identified from gill of one- Korea (Kim et al., 2002). hundred samples were found comprising: six species belonging to two genera of Evans and Lester (2001) reoported on monogenean trematodes, Dactylogyrus vastator the parasites of five commonly imported (Figure 1), D. baueri (Figure 2), D. formosus freshwater ornamental fish in Australia, but (Figure 3) , D. sp., Gyrodactylus chinensis not in goldfish. Furthermore, nine parasites (Figure 4) and G. sp., three protistan species: (Tetrahymena corlissi, Chilodonella piscicola, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis(Figure 5), Trichodina Hexamita sp., Cryptobia sp., Chloromyxum sp. (Figure 6) and Cryptobia sp. (Figure 7). D. sp., Camallanus cotti, Centrocestus formosanus, Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 177

Table 1. Prevalence percentage of parasites isolated from the gills of pearlscale goldfish.

Parasite Prevalence (%) Parasite Metazoans Dactylogyrus vastator 82 D. baueri 50 Monogenea D. formosus 28 Monogenea Dactylogyrus sp. 26 Monogenea Gyrodactylus chinensis 30 Monogenea Gyrodactylus sp. 19 Monogenea Protozoans Trichodina sp. 23 Ciliata Ichthyobodo sp. 8 Flagellata Ichthyophthirius multifiliis 10 Ciliata

Figure 1. Dactylogyrus baueri. Figure 2. Dactylogyrus vastator. Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 178

Figure 3. Dactylogyrus formosus. Figure 4. Gyrodactylus chinensis.

Figure 5. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Figure 6. Trichodina sp. Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 179

Figure 7. Cryptobia sp.

Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, Urocleidoides fish. As we know, heavy monogenean reticulatus and larval nematodes) were infestations are usually indicators of poor identified on nine ornamental fish species sanitation and deteriorating water quality examined in Brazil (Piazza et al., 2006) and (Noga,1996; Andrews et al. 2003). There is infection prevalence of parasites in goldfish therefore a need to ensure adequate sanitation was around 2% with Trichodina acuta, of fish prior to import into Iran. Piscinoodinium pillulare and unidentified monogeneans being identified in this fish. References Mouton et al. (2001) in a pilot study in South Alderton D (2005) “Encyclopedia of aquarium & pondfish”. DK publisher, London ISBN Africa examined four groups of fishes in 1405302682. which T. mutabilis, I. multifiliis, Dactylogyrus sp.and Gyrodactylus sp. were identified. Andrews C, Exell A and Carrington N. (2003). “Manual of fish health”. Firefly books publishers, NY USA, ISBN 1552978249. Exporting conditions for the ornamental industry allow non-intermediate hosts to be Bychovskaya IE, Pavlovskaya and others moved between countries, potentially leading (1962). Key to parasites of freshwater fish of to increases in parasite infections. The current the U.S.S.R, Academy of science of the USSR zoological institute, Moskva-Leningrad. study shows us that exotic parasites are being probably introduced to Iran and other healthy Ebrahimzadeh MHA. (2003). Parasites of goldfish or ornamental fish due to poorly ornamental fish in Iran. Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish. prepared importation. However, limited data Pathol. 23, 297-300. exists on the parasite fauna of native stocks of Evans BB and Lester RJG (2001). Parasites of fish in Iran. Besides the monogenean parasites, ornamental fish imported in to Australia.Bull. protistans have short direct life-cycle that no Eur. Ass. Fish. Pathol. 21, 51-55. need to intermediate host, which allows them Kim JH, Hayward CJ, Joh SJ and Heo GJ to quickly multiply to risky levels in aquarium Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 29(5) 2009, 180

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