Parasitic fauna of spiny eel Mastacembelus mastacembelus from Greater Zab river in Iraq

A total of 128 spiny eels Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Mastacembelidae) were collected from the Greater Zab river at Iski Kalak town, west of Erbil city, Kurdistan region, Iraq, from July 2007 to the end of June 2008. The fish were examined for ecto and endo parasites. The study revealed the existence of 16 species of parasites (with a total prevalence of 89.06%) including: two species of protozoans (Trypanosoma sp. and Trichodina pediculus), one species of monogenetic trematodes (Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus), six species of digenetic trematodes (Allocreadium transversale, Asymphylodora macracetabulum, Pseudochetosoma salmonicola, Clinostomum complanatum, Diplostomum flexicaudum and D. spathaceum), two species of cestodes (Polyonchobothrium magnum and Ligula intestinalis), two species of nematodes (Agamospirura sp. and Procamallanus viviparus), one species of leech, crustacean and arachnoide (Cystobranchus mammillatus, Argulus foliaceus and Arrenurus sp. respectively). Five species of these parasites (T. pediculus, A. transversale, D. flexicaudum, C. mammillatus and Arrenurus sp.) were recorded for the first time in Iraq. In addition, M. mastacembelus was regarded as a new host for A. macracetabulum, C. complanatum and A. foliaceus.Key words: